Introduction:

Chronotype and sleep-quality changes have been associated with the desynchronization of the circadian clock, which has been studied as the possible cause of the appearance of chronic dis eases, such as obesity. The objective of the present study was to identify the association between anthro pometric indicators, such as body fat percentage and food consumption, in sync with the work shift, chronotype, and sleep quality of the health personnels of a hospital providing secondary level of care.

Materials and methods:

Anthropometric measurements (i.e., weight, height, waist circumference, and skinfolds) were recorded to determine the body mass index and total body fat percentage using the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index.

Results:

A total of 60 workers participated in the survey, who predominantly recorded night chronotype (53%), 80% of the participants had a moderate quality of sleep, 55% were overweight and obese, and only 8.3% presented with normal body fat. In the night shift, poor sleep quality (p = 0.03) and adaptation to the evening and night chronotypes (p = 0.03) were prominent. Evening-chronotype participants showed the highest body weight values (p = 0.04). Sleep quality showed no significant association with the weight or body fat percentage changes.

Discussion:

Altered circadian rhythms increase the risk of obesity and other health issues. There was an adaptation of the chronotype to the shift in which the patients worked, moderate quality of sleep, and inappropriate eating habits, which are consid ered as the synchronizers of the circadian cycles, placing them as factors to be taken into account to avoid future diseases.

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