A Multimethod Approach to Understanding the Relationships Among Sleep, Eating, and Shift Work

Abstract

Inadequate sleep duration and poor sleep quality increase risk for chronic disease, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. It is important to understand the relationships between sleep and health across the lifespan and to find ways to maximize sleep duration and quality, especially in populations and professions where poor sleep is prevalent. The association between sleep and increased weight may be partially due to alterations in hormonal control of appetite and altered reward pathways as a result of impaired sleep. Circadian misalignment occurs throughout the general public when social and work demands interfere with sleep. The most severe cause is from shift work. Circadian misalignment is associated with poor sleep quality, weight gain, and metabolic disorders. These effects may be more pronounced in EMS providers, who work in shifts and endure a high stress work environment creating barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the relationship among sleep, eating behavior, diet quality, and physical activity in adolescents and EMS providers.