Evaluation of the relationship between chronotype, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and cardiometabolic health in adults

Introduction: This study was planned to evaluate the relationship between chronotype, adherence to a Mediterranean diet, and cardiometabolic health in adults. Methodology: Descriptive, cross-sectional, and cross-analytical study. A total of 205 adults from Turkey, who were 18-65 years old, completed an online survey between May and June 2021. Participants filled out a questionnaire that contained the general information form, anthropometric measurements, cardiometabolic health status, chronotype, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Results: 69 (33.7%) men and 136 (66.3%) women participated in the study. According to the BMI classification, 38.5% were overweight, and 14.6% were people with obesity. 9.3% of the participants stated that they had cardiovascular disease and 8.3% stated that they had type 2 diabetes. The mean chronotype scale score of the participants was calculated as 51.8 (17.3), 42 (20.5%) morningness type, 139 (67.8 %) intermediate type, and 24 (11.7%) eveningness type. The mean PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) score of the adults participating in the study was 5.7 (1.7), and it was determined that 46.3% had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 51.7% had medium and 2.0% had high. A significant difference was found between the participants' age, BMI classification, occupation according to chronotype, and waist circumference according to Mediterranean diet compliance (p<0.05). A negative correlation was found between waist circumference and PREDIMED score (r=-0.160, p<0.01). Conclusions: It was observed that the majority of the adults were in intermediate chronotype and their adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low. No relationship was found between chronotype, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and cardiometabolic health. © 2022 Asociacion Espanola de Dietistas-Nutricionistas. All rights reserved.