Why night shifts might give you a fatty liver
Shift work and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a systematic review of observational studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Young women in their 20s are more at risk than older adults or men.
Most public health messaging focuses on middle-aged men with obesity as the primary fatty liver group — this study flips that, showing a hidden vulnerability in young, possibly lean, female shift workers.
Practical Takeaways
If you work nights, get a liver enzyme test (ALT/AST) annually and track your sleep schedule — even small fixes like consistent meal times and avoiding late-night carbs can help.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Young women in their 20s are more at risk than older adults or men.
Most public health messaging focuses on middle-aged men with obesity as the primary fatty liver group — this study flips that, showing a hidden vulnerability in young, possibly lean, female shift workers.
Practical Takeaways
If you work nights, get a liver enzyme test (ALT/AST) annually and track your sleep schedule — even small fixes like consistent meal times and avoiding late-night carbs can help.
Publication
Journal
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Year
2025
Authors
Bingya Ma, Yihang Fan, W. Fan
Related Content
Claims (6)
Working irregular hours or not sleeping well can mess up your body’s internal clock, which in turn hurts your metabolism and liver — making it harder for your body to process food and stay healthy.
People who work nights or irregular shifts are more likely to develop a fatty liver condition, especially if they do it for a long time or often — this might be because their body’s internal clock gets messed up.
People in their 20s, especially women who work nights or irregular hours, might be more likely to develop a fatty liver condition than older workers, because their bodies may react more strongly to disrupted sleep schedules.
People who work nights more than three times a week are more likely to develop a type of liver fat buildup than those who rarely or never work nights — and the more nights they work, the higher the risk.
People who naturally stay up late might be more likely to develop a fatty liver if they work night shifts or irregular hours, because their body clock doesn’t match their work schedule.