Shifting weight using intermittent fasting (SWIFt): A 2 year follow up of weight loss outcomes in night shift workers

Background: Shift workers have increased risks of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes partly because of the metabolic consequences of night-time eating. The NHMRC funded SWIFt study (https://www.monash.edu/medicine/swiftstudy) is a novel multi-site (Melbourne and Adelaide) intervention investigating three different weight loss strategies for shift workers. The three diets are i) continuous energy restriction ii) 5:2 day (fasting on a day shift or day off) and iii) 5:2 night (fasting on a night shift). Over the past four years 250 shift workers have been randomised to one of three weight-loss diets and 170 have completed a six month weight loss intervention. We have follow up data of weight trajectory at twelve months but we would like to examine the longer term outcomes of a period of successful weight loss in our shift work participants. This Hons project will involve recontacting SWIFt participants and inviting them back to undertake some additional measures (weight, body composition, blood sampling) and questionnaires (quality of life, sleep and physical activity). The aim of the project is to see whether participants have i) maintained their weight loss and ii) whether one diet was more effective than the others. This will be a unique data-set with no long-term follow up weight loss data of shift workers currently available. The project involves working as part of a large collaborative team with investigators in both Melbourne and Adelaide. The protocol paper providing details of the SWIFT study can be found at https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/4/e060520