Shift‑Work Biomarkers of Obesity Risk in Workers
Summary
This prospective cohort study is recruiting 1,000 participants from healthcare and industrial settings across five European countries—Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. It compares night-shift workers (rotating shifts with at least four nights per month over at least three years) against day workers, carefully matched by age, gender, and job roles. Researchers collect biological samples (blood, urine, saliva, hair, and feces) and behavioral data to assess markers related to metabolism, inflammation, appetite hormones, circadian disruption, oxidative stress, and the microbiome. As of August 27, 2025, no results have been published or posted.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
Night-shift schedules disrupt internal body clocks, which may alter hormone signaling, inflammation, and metabolic balance—mechanisms that could elevate risk for weight gain, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. This study’s detailed biomarker mapping in real-world shift contexts is important because it goes beyond simple BMI associations to uncover specific biological pathways affected by shift work—data that could eventually inform personalized strategies around meal timing, sleep habits, or work rotation to reduce long-term cardiometabolic risks.
Notes
Industrial + healthcare workers.