Chrononutritional Patterns: Examining the Interaction Between Shift Work, Eating Habits and Mealtimes in Shift Workers

Purpose To analyze the effect of shift work on the total calorie intake, macronutrients and mealtimes of military policemen during working days and off-duty days. Design Quantitative cross-sectional. Setting Military policemen who worked shifts in a city in the Northern region of Brazil. Population 34 military policemen aged between 18 and 50. Measurements Calorie intake, macronutrients, mealtimes, dietary midpoint and dietary window for working days and off-duty days were analyzed. Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE) with Bonferroni post-test, adjusted for age and BMI test was used to check the differences between the variables. Results The median intake of calories (2781 kcal vs 2350 vs 2295 kcal; P < 0.001), proteins (200 g vs 122.65 g vs 104.24 g; P = 0.006) and lipids (158.41 g vs 86.94 g vs 91.03 g; P = 0.014) was higher when policemen worked day compared night shifts and to off-duty days. Meals started early during the day and the eating window was longer during the day shift, followed by off-duty days and the night shift. Conclusion These findings reinforce the effect of shift work on eating habits and highlight the need for nutritional strategies adapted to the occupational context of military policemen.