Report Title

The Effect of Food and Sleep Tracking on Quality of Life

Collective Title

Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Research Reports 2019

Abstract

Abstract Background: Various factors such as sleep quality and amount and food intake can have an impact on quality of life in terms of the amount of stress or fatigue that an individual experiences as an outcome. Food tracking has been commonly used as a tool for weight loss. Yet, current research has been looking at other possible advantages related to food tracking.

Objective: To examine the effects of food and sleep tracking on health-related quality of life with respects to sleep quality and quantity, stress, and fatigue, in adults aged 18 years or older.

Methods: Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and Fatigue Symptom Inventory questionnaires before and after a 7-day food and sleep tracking period, via the HealthWatch 360 application. An optional interview was conducted with 20 participants and summarized into four themes.

Results: There was a nonsignificant improvement in overall sleep amount (p=0.073) over 7 days, when compared to day 1 as baseline. When stratified by gender, there was a significant improvement in overall sleep amount for females (0.012) but not for males (p=0.321). Results also found that there were significant changes in sleep quality (p=0.582) for males and females. Moreover, there was a slight, nonsignificant, decrease in fatigue and stress over 7 days, (p=0.067) and (p=0.039), respectively.

Conclusion: Food and sleep tracking using the HealthWatch 360 application does not have a significant effect on quality of life in terms of stress, fatigue and sleep. Nevertheless, tracking food intake and sleep may lead to increased accountability.

LLU Discipline

Nutrition and Dietetics

Department

Nutrition and Dietetics

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Gurinder Bains

Second Advisor

Lida Gharibvand

Third Advisor

Heather Javaherian-Dysinger

Fourth Advisor

JeJe Noval

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Date (Title Page)

2019

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Food habits; Quality of life; Sleep

Type

Research Report

Page Count

28 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Collection Website

scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/

Repository

Loma Linda University. University Libraries.

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