Dados do Trabalho

Título

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSUFFICIENT SLEEP AND OBESITY IN A STRICTO SENSU POST GRADUATION COURSE

Introdução

Insufficient sleep is considered a risk factor for obesity. Sleep deprivation modifies the hormones that regulate the appetite and raises the calories intake, affecting both sides of energy balance. The influence obesity and sleep deprivation have on the post graduation student´s physical and mental health cannot be ignored. Multiple environmental factors, such as changes on waking up and going to bed time, the increase of study time and the decrease of extra curricular activities time make such students potentially at risk of circadian rhythm rupture.

Objetivo

To investigate the relationship between sleep quality and obesity in post graduation students.

Métodos

Observational research with quantitative approach, made with stricto sensu post graduation students from a federal university located in Rio de Janeiro. The study was sent though Zip Code under the approval number 2.022.926. The variables used were: Sleep quality: bad (PSQI ≤5) and good (PSQI >5), defined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Total Time of Night Sleep in Minutes (TTNSM) measured by the actigraph for 24 hours; Body Mass Index (BMI) – height²/ weight; and Body Mass Index Classification: appropriate weight (BMI< 25) and overweight (IMC ≥ 25). The statistical analysis was made with the program Rcommander. The correlation between TTNSM and BMI was assessed by the Spearman correlational test. In order to compare the TTNSM with the BMI classifications, Wilcoxon test was used. The chi-squared test was used to check the relationship between BMI categories and sleep quality. It was considered statistically relevant when p < 0,05.

Resultados

The sample was made of 32 post graduation students, from which 69 % presented poor quality sleep and 69% were considered overweight. However, the relationship between these variables was not relevant (chi-square = 0.86, p = 0.34). The average and medium TTNSM of the overweight sample was 391.9 and 412 minutes respectively and with appropriate weight 358 and 360 minutes. Despite the overweight post graduation students sleep less, no significant difference was found (Wilcoxon – p = 0.14). The correlation between TTNSM and BMI was negative, but not significant (Rho = - 0.22, p = 0.2)

Conclusões

Although it was a small sample, the results show the necessity of a more comprehensive approach regarding the monitoring of post graduation students' sleep. The situation demands an intensified formation of professionals who have a concern about their lifestyles

Palavras-chave

Obesity; Sleep; Post Graduation Programs