The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says 8.7m people in the UK work at night, including in factories, warehouses, retail and call centres as well as the public sector. Eurest says they could be at risk of health impacts that range from sleep disorders to poor physical and mental health.
Poor sleep has been linked to a range of long-term health impacts, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke. Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) is now a recognised and diagnosable condition.
Ryan Holmes, culinary director at Eurest, said: “A healthy, nutritious diet that supports wellbeing is crucial for those who work shift patterns, and now is the right time to think about how we change the culture around catering provision to support them better.
“More research is needed on the impact of shift work on the body and looking at the best possible times to eat at night. As well as exploring the positive impact a healthier diet could have on weight management and keeping diseases such as type 2 diabetes at bay.
“Most of all, we need to listen to shift workers and what they want. Healthy options should be easily available, allowing people to resist the urge to go for items high in fat or sugar when they are tired and lacking in resolve.”
Eurest’s white paper ‘Catering for the night shift’ includes a survey of night shift workers as well as interviews with nutritionists, wellbeing physiologists and academic researchers. It found 78% change their eating patterns to match their work/sleep pattern, although 48% have only one break per night shift.