2025 Volume 33 Issue 3 Pages 169-176
Objective: To identify work-related factors associated with irregular meal times in order to develop strategies for improving workers’ dietary habits.
Methods: This study conducted a secondary analysis using data from the 2022 cross-sectional internet survey “WELWEL,” which targeted 20,000 workers aged 20–59. Participants were categorized into two groups based on meal timing: regular and irregular. Chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and t-tests were used to compare demographic and other characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed with meal timing as the dependent variable and work-related factors as independent variables.
Results: Among the participants, 13,035 (65.2%) had regular meal times, while 6,965 (34.8%) had irregular meal times. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for demographic factors and sleep duration, showed that shift workers had higher odds of irregular meal times, regardless of whether their shifts included night work (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: without night shifts, 3.47 [2.95, 4.08]; with night shifts, 3.20 [2.88, 3.56]). Additionally, workers in the tertiary industry and those with higher job stress scores had significantly higher odds of having irregular meal times (2.01 [1.86, 2.17] and 1.04 [1.04, 1.05], respectively).
Conclusion: Irregular meal times were associated with work styles such as shift work. To improve the dietary habits of workers with irregular meal times, it is necessary for employers and companies to review work arrangements, improve the food environment, and provide health education for employees
