Anthropometry, dietetic habits and sleepiness in Ecuadorian adults

Abstract

The reduction of hours of sleep affects the physical and mental health of people. Having unhealthy sleep habits are associated with a greater occurrence of daytime sleepiness, which in turn has been related to poorer nutritional status. The objective of this study was to relate food intake, anthropometric measurements, and daytime sleepiness in Ecuadorian adults. Non-experimental, cross-sectional study, the sample included 400 men and women between 18 and 65 years of age, who attended an outpatient consultation of general medicine, family medicine, and traumatology services of a public hospital in Quito-Ecuador. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were measured using tetrapolar bio-impedance, following the recommendations of the International Society for the Advancement of Anthropometry (ISAK). Caloric intake was measured using a 24-hour recall and for daytime sleepiness (DS) the Epworth questionnaire was used. Statistical analyzes were performed using R. From the sample 56.5% presented DS, which affected women more frequently compared to men (p < 0.05). Differences were found between body measurements and dietary intake between groups of people with and without DS. Caloric intake, waist circumference, percentage of fat mass were higher in people with DS (p < 0.05), while muscle mass was higher in subjects without DS (p <0.05). No differences were found concerning visceral fat. We conclude that SD is related to less healthy values in terms of dietary intake and anthropometric measures.