Truck drivers with poor nutrition are more likely to have fatigue and be dangerous drivers

A new study suggests that poor diet can increase the risk of dangerous driving for truck drivers.

A Beijing-based research team studied the diets of nearly 400 male truck drivers in Suzhou, China – a city west of Shanghai in Jiangsu Province.

They found that drivers who consumed more junk food, snacks, and animal protein were more likely to feel tired and drive dangerously, which could lead to car accidents.

Conversely, truck drivers who ate a diet rich in vegetables tended to be safer and more attentive.

Poorly fed truckers are more likely to be tired, make mistakes, and be aggressive drivers. A study in Germany found that many truckers eat poorly because they eat a large part of their food at truck stops, where there aren’t that many healthy options

Most drivers were between 31 and 60 years old, had between six and ten years of driving experience, and had driven between 31,000 and 62,000 miles (50,000 to 100,000 kilometers) in an average year.

Each of the drivers in the study, available Tuesday in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was asked how often they ate 25 different foods in the past 12 months.

Drivers were categorized according to their reported diets: vegetable staples (such as eggs, milk, and other common products), animal proteins, and snacks.

They also conducted Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory surveys, which assess physical and mental fatigue, and were asked about their behavior and attitudes on the go.

It was found that those who ate high in vegetables or a staple diet were less tired and drove more safely.

They were more attentive, made fewer mistakes while driving, and were less aggressive while driving.

Meanwhile, drivers on an animal protein-based diet and those on a snack food diet were more likely to be insecure drivers.

All of the truckers in these two groups were likely to make more mistakes and were more aggressive than their counterparts, with snack-diet drivers being particularly unlikely to drive positively.

“The results of this study support a connection between eating patterns and driving behavior in a sample of professional truck drivers,” the researchers write.

“In addition, it can be concluded from the path analysis reported that positive driving behavior can be achieved through prudent eating patterns such as eating habits that result from a high intake of fats and [sugars]. ‘

Drivers ‘nutritional patterns affect both their level of fatigue and driving behavior, while fatigue can likely affect drivers’ behavior as well

The latter two categories were also associated with higher levels of fatigue.

There has long been a link between eating healthier, more energy throughout the day, and more alertness.

Truckers often eat at truck stops and don’t have time to cook themselves, but instead eat whatever food is available to them at these stops.

About 37 percent of the truckers in the study consumed either all of their meals or most of their meals at truck stops.

Truckers who brought food from home often ate healthier foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, rather than the meat, snacks, and sugary foods that those who ate on the road did.

The researchers also find that there are demonstrable links between unhealthy life choices and a more dangerous lifestyle, as people who eat more unhealthy foods are more likely to take unnecessary risks.

Since tired drivers are more dangerous and tired drivers are more likely to make poor dietary decisions, the researchers believe that fatigue also played a role in less attentive and error-prone driving.

However, according to their report, you cannot be 100 percent sure.

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/truck-drivers-with-poor-nutrition-are-more-likely-to-have-fatigue-and-be-dangerous-drivers/