Does when you eat affect metabolism during shift work? Evidence from animal studies

Shifted food intake and circadian disruption may contribute to metabolic dysfunction in shift-workers.

• Circadian disruption in shift-workers is linked to risks of overweight and metabolic issues.
• Conflicting signals from altered activity, food intake, and light exposure may disrupt internal body clocks.
• Experimental models show that forced sleep deprivation and altered activity timing can affect metabolism.
• Varied intensity and duration of experimental protocols lead to different effects on metabolic health.
• Disruption of activity patterns is common, but not all studies assess food intake timing.
• Time of food intake may be crucial for maintaining circadian and metabolic balance.

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