Sleep quality and food intake of high school students
Conference Paper
Overview
Research
View All
Overview
abstract
Poor sleep quality is associated with increased food intake and poor
diet quality [1]. People with lack of sleep show a positive correlation. between free time and food intake and also experience hormonal
and brain changes that drive the intake of food with high calorific
value [1-3]. In addition, scientific research has shown a healthy and
balanced diet to positively influence the quality of sleep [1].
Objective
The present study was set out to assess the sleep quality of high school
students in Bragança county, and its association with food intake.
Methods
The study used non-experimental, analytical and transversal methodology,
of epidemiological character and with a quantitative approach.
It was intended to carry out the study in a population of 862 high
school students. However, due to consent being required from both
legal guardians and students, a smaller sample of 345 students was
obtained. The data was collected in May 2017 through a questionnaire
that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), validated
for the Portuguese population.
Results
Throughout the study and following PSQI analysis, it was concluded
that 39.71% (n = 137) of participants showed poor quality of sleep
(PSQI > 5 points). The correlation between sleep quality and food intake
was assessed and a statistically significant association was found
between the quality of sleep and the intake of snacks (X2 = 17.144; p
= 0.000), sugary products (X2 = 18.603; p= 0 .000), fast-food (X2 =
12.353; p = 0.002) and ready meals (X2 = 14.852; p = 0.000). The risk
of suffering from poor sleep quality is higher in young populations
who frequently eat snacks ([OR]: 2.811; 99%), sugary products ([OR]:
1.901; 95%), fast-food ([OR]: 4.000; 99%) and ready meals ([OR]: 5.621;
95%) in comparison with young populations who rarely eat this sort
of food. The sleep quality is also significantly related with the number
of meals young people have in a day (X2 = 7.580; p = 0.023). The
risk of having poor quality sleep is 2.240 times higher in young
people who rarely eat 4-6 meals a day.
Conclusions
A correlation between sleep quality and food intake in the sampled
students was seen. The risk of having poor quality of sleep is higher
in students who frequently eat a high calorie diet and also in students
who rarely have 4-6 meals a day. There are several connections
between sleep quality and eating habits. Sleep promotion and its
connection with standard diets should be included as an essential
part of community empowerment for health-promoting lifestyles
[1,4,5].
