Relationship between sleep quality, eating habits, and anthropometric profile in adolescents: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Obesity represents an important risk factor for various noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in adolescents and the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sleep quality, dietary habits and anthropometric profile in Peruvian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 240 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years participated in the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI) and an instrument based on the Spanish version of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Eating Habits questionnaire were used. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) were determined. Chi-square and Spearman's Rho (Rho) statistical tests were used. Sleep quality was significantly and indirectly associated with eating habits (rho=-0.262; p=<0.001). Similarly, a statistically significant and indirect correlation was found between sleep quality and BMI of the participants (rho=-0.174; p=0.007). Also, sleep quality was positively correlated with WHtR (rho=0.170; p=0.018). On the other hand, it was observed that eating habits are indirectly correlated with BMI and ECI (rho=-0.959; p=0.003) and (rho=-0.215; p=0.002, respectively. The proportion of men who presented inadequate sleep quality, inadequate eating habits and excess weight was higher compared to women. It is important to implement healthy lifestyle intervention programs to improve sleep quality, eating habits, and prevent general and abdominal obesity, which are risk factors for NCDs.