Advances in research on shift work associated circadian rhythm disruption and obesity

Abstract

Circadian rhythm disruption is a universal phenomenon that is associated with a combination of internal and external factors, with internal factors referring to disturbances in the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms of sleep-wake behavior, and external factors including changes in sleep habits, severe sleep deprivation, shift work, social jet lag, prolonged exposure to nighttime light, and late nighttime eating. Shift work, as a common occupational factor, can lead to disruption of the central/ peripheral biological clock which regulates the expression of almost the entire genome, and the disruption of the biological clock can lead to genetic variants, hormonal secretion abnormalities, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation, which are risk factors for obesity. In the context of rapid advancement of global economy and industrialization, the prevalence of simple obesity in the traditional cognitive category is increasing in a linear trend, while the incidence of abdominal obesity, which is closely related to metabolic disorders, is also showing an increasing trend. In recent years, the mechanism of circadian rhythm disorder and obesity associated with shift work has attracted much attention, and this article summarized the latest research progress, aiming to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of obesity caused by circadian rhythm disruption due to shift work.

Keywords

• circadian rhythm disruption
• obesity
• shift work
• occupational exposure