Comparison of Physical Activity Levels, Metabolic Syndrome Risks and Sleep Quality of Athletes and Sedentary University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the phys- ical activity levels, metabolic syndrome risks and sleep quality of ath- letes and sedentary university students.Material and Methods: A total of 400 students, including 200 athletes and 200 sedentary students studying at Gümüşhane University, were included in this study. In col- lecting data; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate the sleep quality of the participants, International Physical Activity Ques- tionnaire-Short Form was used to determine physical activity levels and Metabolic Syndrome Research Form was used to determine metabolic syndrome risk levels. Results: Average age of the participants was 19.94±1.48. A significant difference was detected between athletes and sedentary individuals in sleep quality and metabolic syndrome risk level. Individuals who exercise regularly and have high physical activ- ity levels were found to have higher sleep quality and lower metabolic syndrome risks. In addition, these people are less exposed to various sleep problems such as falling asleep late, daytime sleepiness, ineffi- cient sleep, etc. Conclusion: Increasing the level of physical activity improves sleep quality and reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome. Athletes have better sleep quality and lower risk of metabolic syndrome than sedantery. It is important to increase research in this area in young individuals. On the other hand, creating the right exercise program should be emphasized in studies. It is thought that our study will con- tribute to future studies in this regard.