Relación del estado nutricional con el ciclo circadiano en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de Salud de la UTPL con exceso de peso

Abstract

Abstract: Alterations in chronotype can influence weight gain, suggesting that those who prefer nighttime activities have a higher risk of developing obesity. The objective of this study was to relate nutritional status to the circadian rhythm in overweight students from the Faculty of Health Sciences at UTPL. It was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study where body composition, lipid profile, and dietary patterns were evaluated to determine nutritional status, and the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire was used to determine chronotype. The sample consisted of 123 students. Men presented a higher percentage of muscle mass (44.59 ± 3.92% vs. 35.70 ± 3.04%; p = 0.00), while women showed a higher percentage of body fat (33.82 ± 5.70% vs. 21.09 ± 6.94%; p = 0.00). The intermediate chronotype was the most common (74.02%, p = 0.40). 46.3% of participants were obese and 44.7% were overweight. The intermediate chronotype was characterized by a diet that needed changes (p = 0.17) and was unhealthy (p = 0.23). Nutritional status did not show statistically significant differences with chronotype.