Abstract：
Chronotype is an established concept designed to capture the internal clock\'s phase in real-life conditions. It is vital in many aspects of daily life and can interfere considerably with numerous factors in a given population. Recognizing nonmodifiable and modifiable factors is crucial for identifying covariates of interest when studying the link between chronotype and health status. To date, chronotype and its related factors have not been extensively investigated. The present study aimed to explore the association of chronotypes with meal frequency, physical activity, and demographic factors among the Saudi population. This cross-sectional web-based questionnaire involved 1369 adults (aged 18 years and above) from the general public in Saudi Arabia and was conducted between March and May 2019. Chronotype was assessed using the reduced version of the original Horne and Ostberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ). Meal frequencies and demographics data (age, gender, marital status, place of residence, educational level, employment status, income) were obtained. Physical activity level was also obtained using the international physical activity questionnaire. The MEQ scores group individuals into three categories: morning-type, neither-type, and evening-type. The neither-type individuals represented 41.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.5% - 45.6%) of the study population, followed by the morning-type (34.1%; 95% [CI], 29.8% - 38.4%), then the evening-type (24.3%, 95% [CI], 19.6% - 28.9%). Chronotype was significantly associated with age, marital status, employment status and monthly income (All p < 0.05). Significant associations between chronotype with meal frequencies (number of meals per day, breakfast frequency, lunch frequency, and dinner frequency) and physical activity were also observed (All p < 0.05). This study highlights that meal frequencies and physical activity levels are associated with chronotype distribution. Furthermore, demographics, including age, marital status, employment status, and income, were associated with chronotype distribution.
摘要：
Chronotype是一个既定的概念，旨在捕获现实生活条件下的内部时钟相位。它在日常生活的许多方面都至关重要，并且会严重干扰给定人群中的许多因素。在研究时间型和健康状况之间的联系时，识别不可改变和可改变的因素对于识别感兴趣的协变量至关重要。迄今为止,时间型及其相关因素尚未得到广泛研究。本研究旨在探讨时序型与进餐频率的关系，身体活动,和沙特人口中的人口因素。这份基于网络的横断面问卷涉及沙特阿拉伯公众的1369名成年人（18岁及以上），于2019年3月至5月进行。使用原始Horne和Ostberg早晚性问卷（MEQ）的简化版本评估时序型。用餐频率和人口统计数据(年龄，性别,婚姻状况,居住地,教育水平,就业状况,收入)获得。还使用国际身体活动问卷获得了身体活动水平。MEQ评分将个人分为三类：早晨型，两种类型，晚上型。两种类型的个体占41.6%(95%置信区间[CI]，37.5％-45.6％）的研究人群，其次是早晨型(34.1%；95%[CI]，29.8%-38.4%），然后是晚上型(24.3%，95%[CI]，19.6%-28.9%）。时序型与年龄显著相关,婚姻状况,就业状况和月收入(均p<0.05)。时间型与进餐频率之间存在显著关联(每天进餐次数，早餐频率,午餐频率,和晚餐频率）和身体活动也观察到（所有p<0.05）。这项研究强调，进餐频率和身体活动水平与时间型分布有关。此外，人口统计，包括年龄,婚姻状况,就业状况,和收入，与时间型分布有关。
