Evening chronotype, irregular circadian eating patterns, and eating-related behaviors may be associated with increased obesity risk among Turkish university students: A large-scale cross-sectional study

IF 3.6 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Nutrition Research Pub Date : 2025-12-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-05 DOI:10.1016/j.nutres.2025.11.002

Hatice Ozcaliskan Ilkay

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Abstract

This study investigated the interplay between chronotype, chrononutritional indices, diet quality, eating behaviors, circadian rhythm variables, and obesity indicators in university students. Specifically, in this cross-sectional study, 618 healthy students from Erciyes University completed validated questionnaires assessing chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, MEQ), Mediterranean diet adherence (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, MEDAS), hedonic hunger (Power of Food Scale, PFS), eating awareness (Mindful Eating Inventory, MEI), and chrononutritional variables. Furthermore, associations were evaluated using ANCOVA, partial correlations, and multiple regression analyses. Results indicated that morning types demonstrated higher MEDAS and MEI scores, more frequent breakfast consumption, lower eating and social jetlag than evening types; while evening types had a shorter eating window than intermediate types (all P < .05). Moreover, greater eating jetlag was associated with longer eating windows, more frequent breakfast consumption, higher social jetlag, and shorter sleep (all P < .001). In addition, multivariable models showed that MEI scores were inversely associated with waist circumference (β = −0.104, P < .001), waist-to-hip ratio (β = −0.074, P = .013), and body mass index (β = −0.156, P < .001). Conversely, PFS scores were positively correlated with anthropometric indicators of obesity, while MEI scores were inversely associated with these measures (all P < .05). Taken together, evening chronotype, irregular meal timing, and predominantly lower eating awareness were independently linked to poorer dietary patterns, adverse eating behaviors, and increased obesity risk in young adults. Thus, promoting morning-oriented eating, regular meals, and mindful eating may improve metabolic health in this population.

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土耳其大学生的夜间睡眠类型、不规则的昼夜节律饮食模式和饮食相关行为可能与肥胖风险增加有关：一项大规模横断面研究。

本研究旨在探讨大学生的睡眠类型、时间营养指标、饮食质量、饮食行为、昼夜节律变量和肥胖指标之间的相互作用。具体来说，在这项横断面研究中，来自埃尔西耶斯大学的618名健康学生完成了有效的问卷调查，评估了时间类型（早-晚性问卷，MEQ）、地中海饮食依从性（地中海饮食依从性筛查，MEDAS）、享乐饥饿（食物力量量表，PFS）、饮食意识（正念饮食量表，MEI）和时间营养变量。此外，使用ANCOVA、偏相关和多元回归分析评估相关性。结果表明，与晚睡型的人相比，早起型的人的MEDAS和MEI得分更高，早餐消费更频繁，饮食和社交时差更低；而夜间型的进食时间较中间型短（P < 0.05）。此外，更大的进食时差与更长的进食时间、更频繁的早餐消费、更高的社交时差和更短的睡眠（均P < 0.001）有关。此外，多变量模型显示，MEI评分与腰围（β = -0.104, P < .001）、腰臀比（β = -0.074, P = .013）和体重指数（β = -0.156, P < .001）呈负相关。相反，PFS评分与肥胖的人体测量指标正相关，而MEI评分与这些指标负相关（均P < 0.05）。综上所述，夜间睡眠类型、不规律的用餐时间和较低的饮食意识与年轻人较差的饮食模式、不良的饮食行为和肥胖风险增加有独立的联系。因此，提倡以早晨为导向的饮食、规律的饮食和有意识的饮食可能会改善这一人群的代谢健康。

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来源期刊

Nutrition Research 医学-营养学

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

2.20%

发文量

107

审稿时长

58 days

期刊介绍： Nutrition Research publishes original research articles, communications, and reviews on basic and applied nutrition. The mission of Nutrition Research is to serve as the journal for global communication of nutrition and life sciences research on diet and health. The field of nutrition sciences includes, but is not limited to, the study of nutrients during growth, reproduction, aging, health, and disease. Articles covering basic and applied research on all aspects of nutrition sciences are encouraged, including: nutritional biochemistry and metabolism; metabolomics, nutrient gene interactions; nutrient requirements for health; nutrition and disease; digestion and absorption; nutritional anthropology; epidemiology; the influence of socioeconomic and cultural factors on nutrition of the individual and the community; the impact of nutrient intake on disease response and behavior; the consequences of nutritional deficiency on growth and development, endocrine and nervous systems, and immunity; nutrition and gut microbiota; food intolerance and allergy; nutrient drug interactions; nutrition and aging; nutrition and cancer; obesity; diabetes; and intervention programs.