Abstract
IntroductionThere is an increasing awareness regarding meal timing and chronotype. The present study aimed to assess breakfast skipping, late dinner intake, and chronotype among Saudi medical students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 169 clinical phase medical students during the period from January to May 2017. A self-administered questionnaire was used to report the frequency and timing of breakfast and dinner. In addition, the previous cumulative grade average, bedtime, wake-up time, and sleep duration during working days and weekends were reported. The chronotype was calculated from mid-sleep and wakeup time during weekends and sleep dept. The student's weight and height were measured to assess the body mass index (BMI). Participants also completed a diary detailing their sleep habits for two weeks before filling out the questionnaire. The chi-square and Pearson's correlation were used for the statistical analysis.ResultsOut of 169 medical students (48.5% males), their age was 22.90±1.27 years, 42% were breakfast-skippers, while 49.7% were late dinner consumers. No correlation was found between the previous cumulative grades (GPA), BMI, chronotype, and time lag in wakeup and bedtime between weekdays and weekends (p>0.005). No significant statistical differences between breakfast-skippers and late dinner consumers and their counterparts regarding GPA and chronotype.ConclusionBreakfast skipping and late dinner consumption were prevalent among medical students in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, future large sample case-control studies to assess the impact of meal timing, and chronotype on academic performance are highly recommended.
Highlights
Sleep is essential for various body vital functions including memory, and preservation
The above data implied that medical students in Medical College, University of Tabuk were more likely of evening chronotype (Table 2)
The current study showed no significant differences between breakfast-skippers and late dinner consumers regarding the GPA and chronotype in line with Roßbach et al [5] who observed no correlations between chronotype, breakfast time, and lunchtime, these results could be explained in part by the meal contents because the chronotype, social jetlag, and perceived sleep debt could influence the type and amount of some food groups consumed at mealtimes [15]
Summary
Sleep is essential for various body vital functions including memory, and preservation. Persons with a trend towards rising early in the morning, perform mentally and physically best in the morning hours and go to bed early in the evening are morning chronotype (larks), while those with a tendency to rise later in the morning, stay awake later at night, and perform at their best in the late afternoon or evening are evening chronotype (night owls). These preferences are assumed to have unique, genetic, biological, contextual, and psychosocial components. We conducted this survey to assess the breakfast skipping, late dinner consumption, and chronotype among medical students in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
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