Sleep duration and physical activity were associated with healthy eating habits among Peruvian secondary school students, with students sleeping 7 hours having higher odds of healthy eating and students with low physical activity having lower odds of healthy eating.
Students who slept 7 hours had significantly higher odds of having healthy eating habits compared with those who slept 6 hours or less.
Students with low levels of physical activity showed lower odds of having healthy eating habits compared with those with high levels of physical activity.
The study was conducted among Peruvian secondary school students using an observational, analytical, cross-sectional design.
A considerable proportion of Peruvian school students do not meet recommended levels of physical activity and may also experience insufficient sleep.
The authors concluded that integrated school-based strategies jointly addressing sleep, physical activity, and nutrition are important during adolescence.
This research examined whether sleep duration and physical activity levels are linked to healthy eating habits in Peruvian middle and high school students. The study surveyed 275 students between the ages of 12 and 17, asking them about their sleep, exercise habits, and what they eat. Researchers then used statistical methods to determine whether these behaviors were related to one another. The study found two notable associations. First, students who slept 7 hours per night were about 2.5 times more likely to have healthy eating habits compared to students who slept 6 hours or less. Second, students who had low levels of physical activity were much less likely to have healthy eating habits compared to those who were highly active. These findings held up even after accounting for other factors through statistical adjustment. This research suggests that sleep, exercise, and diet during the teenage years are interconnected behaviors rather than independent ones. Because all three factors appear to cluster together, programs aimed at improving adolescent health may be more effective if they address sleep, physical activity, and nutrition at the same time, rather than targeting each one separately. The authors point to schools as a practical setting for implementing such combined approaches.
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Upload Your LabsRemón-López J, Chilón-Llico R, Peralta-Eugenio G, Morales-García W, Sairitupa-Sanchez L, Morales-García S, et al.. (2026). Association of Sleep Duration and Physical Activity with Healthy Eating Habits Among Peruvian Secondary School Students.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18172775