Associations of nutrition education with diet quality indexes and chronotype: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the impact of nutrition education on chronotype, sleep quality, and dietary quality among university students. Participants included 317 students with nutrition education and 280 without. Data were collected through questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, chronotype (using the Morning-Evening Questionnaire), sleep quality (via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and dietary habits. Anthropometric measurements and 24-hour food recalls were also recorded. Dietary quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020, while dietary fat and carbohydrate quality were assessed with the Fat Quality Index (FQI) and Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI), respectively. Results indicated that students who received nutrition education had significantly lower body weight, height, and waist circumference compared to those without. Of the students, 8.9% had a morning, 7% had an evening and the rest had an intermediate chronotype. HEI-2020, CQI, and FQI scores were significantly higher in the nutrition education group. Although no significant relationship was found between nutrition education and chronotype, improved dietary and sleep quality were observed in the group with education. This suggested that enhancing nutritional knowledge can positively impact health by improving dietary quality and sleep.