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Shift Work, Obesity, and Cancer

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Impact of Sleep and Sleep Disturbances on Obesity and Cancer

Part of the book series: Energy Balance and Cancer ((EBAC,volume 8))

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Abstract

Experimental data has consistently demonstrated that disruption of circadian rhythm can promote carcinogenesis in animal models, and epidemiologic data continues to accumulate indicating that disrupting circadian rhythm by shift work increases the risk of cancer in humans. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies, both retrospective and prospective, on a worldwide basis, examining the association of shift work with cancer, particularly breast and prostate cancer. We also provide information on the relation of shift work to colorectal, endometrial, lung, skin, and bladder cancer. Also discussed are issues surrounding the relation of shift work to weight gain and obesity and the possibility that obesity may mediate the effect of shift work on cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Elizabeth E. Devore ScD & Eva S. Schernhammer M.D., Dr.P.H.

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Eva S. Schernhammer M.D., Dr.P.H.

  3. ACR-ITR & LBI-ACR, Vienna, Austria

    Eva S. Schernhammer M.D., Dr.P.H.

Authors
  1. Elizabeth E. Devore ScD
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  2. Eva S. Schernhammer M.D., Dr.P.H.
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Correspondence to Elizabeth E. Devore ScD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Susan Redline

  2. Center for Science, Health & Society, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Nathan A. Berger

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Devore, E.E., Schernhammer, E.S. (2014). Shift Work, Obesity, and Cancer. In: Redline, S., Berger, N. (eds) Impact of Sleep and Sleep Disturbances on Obesity and Cancer. Energy Balance and Cancer, vol 8. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9527-7_7

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