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OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04468672

Eating Behaviors in Shift Workers

This study will compare eating behaviors and measures of hunger and fullness between day and night workers in order to better understand why night workers are at increased risk for obesity and related diseases.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Shift Work Type Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder Behavior Behavior, Animal Eating Behavior Feeding Behavior

Age range

20 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, 10032, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Work ~ 8-hour shifts during day or night on 3 or more consecutive days of the week
  • BMI 19-35 kg/m^2
  • Age 20-55 years of age
  • Metabolically healthy
  • Weight stable over previous 3 months
  • Lives in New York City area

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant or less than 1 year postpartum at time of study
  • Smoking
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse
  • Rotating shift work
  • Habitual sleep duration of more than 6 hour per night
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Transmeridian travel
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Hypertension
  • Participation in diet or weight loss program in the 3 months prior to enrollment
  • Psychiatric or sleep disorder
  • Food allergies or intolerances
  • Dislike of or unwillingness to eat test foods

Treatment and study plan

portion size

Behavioral

The amount of food served (g) at the first two meals of each day. These amounts will vary across 4 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Food intake

    Time frame: 24-hours intake period

    Food by weight (g) in response to variations in portion served

  2. Energy intake

    Time frame: 24-hours intake period

    Food by energy (kcal) in response to variations in portion served

  3. Energy density consumed

    Time frame: 24-hours intake period

    Energy density consumed (kcal/g) in response to variations in portion served

Secondary outcomes

  1. Appetite-regulating hormones

    Time frame: 2-hours measurement period

    Appetite-regulating hormones, including Glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) and ghrelin will be analyzed from plasma from whole blood samples collected while fasted and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min postprandial. Area under the curve of plasma concentrations will be calculated for each individual appetite-regulating hormone

  2. Hunger and fullness

    Time frame: 24-hours measurement period

    Subjective measures related to hunger, fullness, and prospective consumption will be measured before and after meals via visual analog scales. The range of scores are 0 mm to 100 mm, with higher scores indicating greater feelings of the corresponding measure (e.g. greater hunger). Post-meal measures, adjusted for the corresponding pre-meal measure, will be analyzed as individual outcomes. Area under the curve will also be calculated for each measure.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Columbia University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Interaction of Shift Work and Food Environment on Eating Behaviors and Appetite

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 13, 2020
Registry last updated
Feb 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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