Impact of Night Shift Work on Obesity Risk in Workers

Development and Evaluation of Nutritional Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Obesity in Shiftworkers

Observational University of Vienna · NCT06288568

This study is trying to see if working night shifts makes hospital and industry workers more likely to become obese compared to those who work during the day.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment1000 (estimated)
Ages21 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Vienna Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Vienna, State of Vienna)
Trial IDNCT06288568 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study investigates how night shift work affects obesity risk among hospital and industry workers across five European countries. By recruiting 1000 participants, including both rotating night shift workers and day workers, the study aims to explore the biological, behavioral, and environmental mechanisms linking night shift work to obesity. Participants will be matched by age, gender, and work tasks to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the effects of shift work on metabolic health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include healthcare and industrial workers aged 21 and older who have been working rotating night shifts for at least three years.

Not a fit: Patients who have a BMI of 40 or above, are pregnant, or have chronic diseases requiring ongoing therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into the mechanisms of obesity risk associated with night shift work, potentially leading to targeted interventions for affected workers.

How similar studies have performed: While the relationship between shift work and obesity has been noted, this specific mechanistic approach in real-life shift workers is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria shift worker

* Health care sector or industrial shift worker
* Employed or self-employed
* 21 years or older
* ≥ 24 h/ week
* Shift work duration \> 3 years and currently doing night shifts
* 4 or more rotating night shifts/month (night shift defined as a work schedule that involves working at least 3 hours between 00:00 and 5:00), at least 2 consecutive nights/month

Inclusion criteria controls

* Health care sector or industrial work
* Employed or self-employed
* 21 years or older
* ≥ 24 h/ week
* No night shift or rotating shift work in the last 5 years
* No history of night shift or rotating shift work for more than 5 years

Exclusion Criteria shift worker and controls:

* Pregnancy
* Lactation period
* BMI of 40 kg/m2 or above
* Present treatment of a disease e.g. cancer radio- or chemotherapy
* Chronic diseases if in an ongoing therapy but not after a remission (renal failure, active hepatitis, cirrhosis, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer)
* Immunodeficiency syndrome, any auto-immune or auto-inflammatory diseases (e.g. type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) and acute episodes of atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, asthma, type 1 allergies such as hay fever)
* Bariatric surgery
* Antibiotics in the last month

Where this trial is running

Vienna, State of Vienna

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions ObesityShift-work DisorderCircadian Rhythm Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.