Direction and magnitude of social jetlag are associated with obesity: Results from a sample of hospital employees

High levels of social jetlag during evening shifts are associated with obesity (odds ratio = 2.25).

• Social jetlag is the mismatch between an individual's biological clock and social obligations.
• A survey of 2508 day workers and 1383 shift workers examined their sleep behaviors and body mass index.
• Logistic regression analysis indicated that both high levels of social jetlag and positive social jetlag were linked to obesity.
• During night shifts, sleep times varied significantly on days off but were consistent on workdays.
• The findings suggest that aligning sleep timing with individual biological rhythms may influence obesity risk.

AI simplified