Date

4-2015

Project Type

URC Presentation

College or School

COLSA

Class Year

Senior

Department

Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences

Major

Nutrition

Faculty Research Advisor

Jesse Morrell

Abstract

LB314. Previous research suggests a link between poor sleep quality and increased consumption of energy dense foods. However, little is known about the timing of sleep and whether or not it affects dietary intake. The purpose of this study was to determine if early, middle, or late sleep midpoints were associated with healthier diets among students participating in the ongoing College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey at the University of New Hampshire between 2012-14 [n= 1,302; 69.6% female; mean age=19]. Sleep behaviors were collected from an online questionnaire and dietary intakes were assessed using three-day food records and nutrient analysis software (Diet Analysis Plus). Sleep midpoints were calculated from self-reported bed times and rise times on usual weekdays and subsequently divided into tertiles. On average, students reported 8.14 hours of sleep and had a sleep midpoint time of 3:54 am. As compared to those in the latest sleep midpoint tertile, students in the earliest tertile had higher intakes of fruit (1.52±.050 vs. 1.27±.049 cups, p<0.05), fiber (23.12±.434 vs. 19.77±.431 grams, p<0.05), total water (2.08±.088 vs. 1.80±.088 L, p<0.05), and a lower ratio of discretionary calories to total calories (28.9±.5 vs. 30.8±.5%, p<0.05). No differences were seen in fat or carbohydrate intake between tertiles. Findings from this project suggest college students with earlier sleep midpoints consume healthier diets, including more fruit and less discretionary calories.

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