Food Intake, Work Shifts and Metabolic Syndrome: A Study with Healthcare Workers at a University Hospital in Southern Brazil

Introduction: Shift work is intrinsically associated with significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and nutritional health risks, including metabolic syndrome. There is an increasing awareness about the importance of eating habits, especially in challenging occupational contexts, such as shift work. Healthcare workers are subjected to long working hours and irregular schedules, and tend to develop inadequate eating habits, frequently preferring snacks and ultra-processed foods, while fiber intake, fundamental for the prevention of metabolic diseases, is often neglected. In this study we aim to evaluate the association between night work, metabolic syndrome, and food consumption patterns among healthcare workers in a large hospital in southern Brazil.