Meal time, working in shifts and body mass index – a pilot study

Abstract Introduction : Meal time influences the body mass index and night shift can have an impact on the nutrition habits. In this study, we have compared the meal timing of night shift with daily workers and the relation with the body mass index (BMI). Material and Methods : A convinience sample was recruted via internet. The participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire including demographics, meal habits and physical activity. Results : There were 38 participants working in night shifts (NSW) and 179 controls. The NSW had higher BMI (p=0.06), with higher percentages of overweight and obesity, significantly higher level of occupational activity (chi2=26.41, p=0.00003) and a significant change (earlier breakfast) in the non working days compared to the working days. In the multivariate regression model, with independent variables (age, time of first meal, time of last meal of the day, occupational physicial acivity and working night shifts) and BMI as outcome, the only significant relation was age (p=0.001). The relation between BMI and having meal after 21h. became marginally significant. Conclusion : Having late meals and posible irregular ones could be related to the increase in BMI in in NSW.