Portion Size for Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Overseen By Mehreen Bhatti, BS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Smoking, Diabetes, Hypertension, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand why night shift workers face a higher risk of obesity and related health issues compared to day workers. It will examine how portion sizes influence hunger and fullness in both groups. Participants must work 8-hour shifts either at night or during the day for at least three consecutive days each week. They should reside in the New York City area and not have conditions such as sleep apnea or type 2 diabetes. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research that could enhance health outcomes for shift workers.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that portion size is safe for shift workers?

Research shows that the treatment being studied is portion size, focusing on how much food is consumed rather than any new drug or device. Consequently, specific safety data, like that for a new medication, is not available. However, adjusting food intake is generally safe, as it is a common daily practice.

The information provided does not include specific safety data for portion size related to shift work sleep disorder. Since this is not a new or experimental drug, usual concerns about side effects do not apply. Instead, the study likely explores how portion sizes might affect hunger and fullness in individuals working day versus night shifts.

In summary, adjusting portion sizes is a normal part of eating habits and does not carry the same safety concerns as new treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exploring portion size as a treatment for Shift Work Sleep Disorder because it offers a novel, non-pharmacological approach to managing the condition. Unlike common treatments like light therapy or sleep medications, which can have side effects or require strict adherence, adjusting portion sizes is a simple lifestyle change. This method could help regulate energy levels and improve sleep patterns naturally, addressing the root causes of the disorder without medicinal intervention. By focusing on dietary adjustments, this approach may also empower individuals to take control of their health with minimal risk.

What evidence suggests that portion size is effective for shift work sleep disorder?

This trial will compare the effects of portion size on shift work sleep disorder between night workers and day workers. Research has not directly shown that changing portion sizes can treat Shift Work Sleep Disorder. Instead, studies focus on how working shifts, especially at night, causes sleep problems. Night workers often sleep less and experience more disrupted sleep than day workers, leading to issues like obesity and other health problems. While adjusting meal portions might aid in weight management, no solid evidence suggests it improves sleep for shift workers. The primary challenge remains the disruption of natural sleep patterns due to night shifts. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Faris M Zuraikat, PhD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for day or night shift workers aged 20-55, with a BMI of 19-35, living in the NYC area. They must be metabolically healthy and weight stable for the past three months. It's not open to pregnant women, smokers, those with certain health conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes, or anyone on a recent diet program.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 20 and 55 years old.

You live in the New York City area.

My metabolism is healthy.

Exclusion Criteria

I work in shifts that change periodically.

I have type 2 diabetes.

I have a diagnosed psychiatric or sleep disorder.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Initial assessment of eating behaviors and appetite-regulating hormones

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Observation

Participants' eating behaviors and appetite are monitored during day and night shifts

1 week

Daily monitoring (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating behaviors and appetite post-observation

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Portion size

Trial Overview The study is looking at how portion size affects hunger and fullness in day versus night shift workers to understand their higher obesity risk. Participants' eating behaviors will be compared based on their work shifts.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Night worker Active Control 1 Intervention

Men and women who work only night shift for at least 3 consecutive days of the week

Group II: Day worker Active Control 1 Intervention

Men and women who work only day shift for at least 3 consecutive days of the week

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

After a night of total sleep deprivation, young men showed a 14% increase in portion size choice for both meals and snacks, indicating that sleep loss can lead to overeating regardless of food type.

Increased hunger and higher plasma ghrelin levels (by 13%) were observed after sleep deprivation, suggesting that both biological and psychological factors contribute to larger portion sizes chosen after a lack of sleep.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute sleep deprivation increases portion size and affects food choice in young men. Hogenkamp, PS., Nilsson, E., Nilsson, VC., et al.[2022]

Graduate paramedics experienced significant increases in reliance on takeaway foods and unintentional weight gain over two years of rotating shift work, with average weight increasing by 2.96 kg and waist circumference by 5.07 cm.

Despite no overall change in daily energy intake or diet quality scores, the study highlights the need for workplaces to provide healthier food options and support to mitigate the negative health impacts of shift work on diet and body composition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Commencing Rotating Shift Work on Diet and Body Composition Changes in Graduate Paramedics: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study. Clark, AB., Coates, AM., Choi, T., et al.[2023]

Reducing breakfast portion sizes by 20% and 40% did not significantly change overall energy intake throughout the day in a study of 33 adults, indicating that smaller portions may not lead to lower total calorie consumption.

However, a 40% reduction in portion size resulted in lower levels of gastrointestinal hormones associated with fullness and higher appetite ratings, suggesting that while energy intake remained stable, appetite and hormone responses were affected, which could inform strategies for managing energy intake.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of reducing portion size at a compulsory meal on later energy intake, gut hormones, and appetite in overweight adults. Lewis, HB., Ahern, AL., Solis-Trapala, I., et al.[2023]

In a study of 63 shift workers, poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration were linked to increased food cravings and a higher desire to eat palatable foods, suggesting a connection between sleep disturbances and appetite regulation.

The majority of participants (84%) reported weight gain since starting shift work, with an average increase of 11.3 kg, indicating that disrupted sleep patterns may contribute to obesity risk in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationship between Sleep and Hedonic Appetite in Shift Workers. Vidafar, P., Cain, SW., Shechter, A.[2021]

Night shift workers are more likely to consume unhealthy foods and beverages, such as fast food and sugar-sweetened drinks, on the same day they work night shifts, with adjusted odds ratios indicating a 70% higher likelihood for fast food and 50% for sugary drinks.

The study, involving 77 nurses over 14 days with 2444 assessments, found no significant link between shift work and unhealthy eating the following day, suggesting that immediate dietary choices are more affected by the shift itself.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shift work relationships with same- and subsequent-day empty calorie food and beverage consumption. Lin, TT., Park, C., Kapella, MC., et al.[2021]

In a study of 44 healthy participants undergoing a 7-day simulated shiftwork protocol, those who had a snack at night reported significantly less sleepiness compared to those who had a meal or did not eat at all.

Participants who snacked during the night felt hungrier than those who had a meal, but the snack did not lead to increased fullness, suggesting that nighttime snacking can help manage hunger without negatively impacting alertness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Subjective Hunger, Gastric Upset, and Sleepiness in Response to Altered Meal Timing during Simulated Shiftwork. Gupta, CC., Centofanti, S., Dorrian, J., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 24 healthy males living in a sleep laboratory for 12 days, those experiencing severe sleep restriction (4 hours of sleep) consumed significantly more snacks, especially sweet snacks, compared to those with moderate sleep restriction (6 hours of sleep).

The findings suggest that severe sleep restriction may increase the risk of obesity and related health issues among shiftworkers due to higher snack consumption and a preference for unhealthy snack choices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of sleep restriction on snacking behaviour during a week of simulated shiftwork. Heath, G., Roach, GD., Dorrian, J., et al.[2022]

The Nutri-Score label effectively reduced portion sizes for less healthy products, with participants selecting smaller portions compared to when no label was present (OR = 0.76).

The Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) label also lowered portion sizes, but the Evolved Nutrition Label (ENL) had mixed effects, reducing portion sizes for cheeses but increasing them for sweet spreads, indicating inconsistency in its impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels on Portion Size Selection: An Experimental Study in a French Cohort. Egnell, M., Kesse-Guyot, E., Galan, P., et al.[2022]

A study of 118 shift workers revealed that their dietary profiles are influenced by factors like sleep duration and fatigue, with permanent night workers consuming higher levels of saturated fat than recommended.

Overall, shift workers had lower carbohydrate intake than recommended, and those with shorter sleep durations tended to consume more carbohydrates, while increased fatigue was linked to higher fat intake.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep Duration and Chronic Fatigue Are Differently Associated with the Dietary Profile of Shift Workers. Heath, G., Coates, A., Sargent, C., et al.[2022]

Participants found colored portion pots and disposable plastic cups particularly useful for estimating portion sizes of amorphous foods like breakfast cereals, indicating a preference for practical tools in portion size estimation.

The study highlighted a strong preference for 'visual' portion size estimation aids over traditional weight measurements, with participants suggesting that educational guidance should be concise, age-appropriate, and delivered through innovative channels like mobile apps or advertisements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of portion size estimation aids: Consumer perspectives on their effectiveness. Faulkner, GP., Livingstone, MBE., Pourshahidi, LK., et al.[2019]

In a study with 43 normal-weight and overweight adults, participants consumed significantly more energy when presented with large food portions compared to standard portions, with an increase of 17% in men and 10% in women over 4 days.

The findings suggest that larger food portions lead to sustained increases in energy intake without participants adjusting their consumption, indicating that portion size may play a crucial role in contributing to excess energy intake and potential weight gain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased portion size leads to a sustained increase in energy intake over 4 d in normal-weight and overweight men and women. Kelly, MT., Wallace, JM., Robson, PJ., et al.[2009]

Night shift workers experienced significantly shorter sleep duration and more premature awakenings compared to day workers, indicating that shift work disrupts sleep quality.

Despite similar self-reported food intake, night workers had a longer eating duration, suggesting potential for behavioral interventions like time-restricted feeding to help manage weight in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Free-Living Sleep, Food Intake, and Physical Activity in Night and Morning Shift Workers. Lauren, S., Chen, Y., Friel, C., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 111 adult participants, reducing meal portion sizes consistently led to decreased energy intake, suggesting that smaller portions can help most people eat less during meals.

The research found no significant participant characteristics (like sex, body weight, or eating behaviors) that affected how much energy intake changed with portion size reduction, indicating that portion control could be an effective strategy for reducing overall energy consumption across diverse populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Individual differences and moderating participant characteristics in the effect of reducing portion size on meal energy intake: Pooled analysis of three randomized controlled trials. Robinson, E., Haynes, A.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12496114/

Shift work sleep disorder and associated factors among ... Result. 370 participants were involved in the study, yielding a response rate of 97.6%. The prevalence of shift work sleep disorder was 35.9% ( ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-sleep-disorders-circadian-rhythm-11-2020-e7d52

Portion Size for Shift Work Sleep Disorder The available research does not provide direct evidence that Portion Size is an effective treatment for Shift Work Sleep Disorder. Instead, the studies focus ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10755475/

Shift work is associated with extensively disordered sleep ... Compared to day workers, shift workers more frequently reported short sleep, most prominently night workers (26 vs. 50%) (p < 0.001).

4. bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03813-3

Effects of programs on sleep improvement in shift-work nurses Shift schedule modification was also effective in improving sleep outcomes by optimizing recovery periods and reducing circadian misalignment.

5. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40914-x

The Impact of Shift Work on Sleep, Alertness and ... Shift work is associated with impaired alertness and performance due to sleep loss and circadian misalignment. This study examined sleep ...

6. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2624-5175/7/1/14

Identifying Risk and Protective Factors for Shift Work Sleep ... The diagnostic criteria for SWSD include persistent insomnia or sleepiness in relation to shift work, not attributable to other disorders or external factors.

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.638252/full

Prevalence of Shift Work Disorder: A Systematic Review ... Results: The overall prevalence of SWD was 26.5% (95% confidence interval = 21.0–32.8). Cochran Q was 1,845.4 (df = 28, p < 0.001), and the I2 was 98.5%, ...