Last Update: February 02, 2023, 18:05 IST
For the study, 19 adults were selected and asked to eat according to either a 28-hour cycle (including day and night) or a 24-hour cycle (during the day only).
A recent study suggests that people who work night shifts can reduce frequent mood swings and anxiety by avoiding overeating during the night.
The 24×7 work culture has greatly influenced our lifestyle and daily routine. Many of us adjust our daily routine according to our office hours. As night shifts have become quite common in industries these days, our eating habits and sleep cycle have also changed to a great extent. Late night snacking is quite common among those working late night shifts in the office. Changes in the natural sleep cycle make night shift workers more prone to developing mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.
A recent study suggests that people who work night shifts can reduce frequent mood swings and episodes of anxiety or depression by refraining from eating during the night.
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Dr. Uma Naidu, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and expert in nutritional psychiatry, recently shared the findings of a study highlighting the importance of the natural sleep cycle in a person’s life. The body’s circadian rhythm that maintains sleep and wake patterns, when mismanaged can develop negative health consequences, Dr Naidu wrote on Instagram.
To find a solution to the problem, researchers assessed whether eating during the day could help reduce health risks or prevent mood vulnerability. “Simulated nighttime work with daytime and nighttime eating increased depression-like mood levels by 26.2 percent and anxiety-like mood levels by 16.1 percent compared to baseline,” the research reports.
For the study, 19 adults were selected and asked to eat according to either a 28-hour cycle (including day and night) or a 24-hour cycle (only during the day).
Notably, no increase in mood vulnerability or levels of depression and anxiety was observed in those night shift workers who ate during the day. Thus, the results are considered a potential ‘meal timing intervention’ that may prove beneficial for those working during odd hours. Apart from those working night shifts, eating during the day can also prove beneficial for those who go through frequent jet lag. Apparently, more research needs to be done to validate the study’s findings. But, the research lays the groundwork to explore the relationship between eating and sleeping cycles, as well as how both factors are extremely important for mental health.
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