Night-eating syndrome is associated with food consumption frequency among Chinese college students

TL;DR

This study finds that night-eating syndrome is linked to specific eating patterns, such as higher fruit and snack consumption, among Chinese college students.

Contribution

The study identifies novel associations between night-eating syndrome severity and distinct dietary behaviors in a large sample of Chinese college students.

Findings

NES is positively associated with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, snacks, and sugary beverages.

NES is linked to more frequent breakfast and lunch consumption but not fast food or dinner frequency.

The study highlights distinctive eating patterns among college students with NES.

Abstract

Patients with night-eating syndrome (NES) exhibit circadian rhythm dysfunction and comorbidities, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, understanding its potential risks and consequences is crucial. This study examined associations between night-eating syndrome (NES), food consumption frequency, and the frequency of consuming three daily meals among Chinese college students. A total of 11,856 university students (mean age 18.8 years) participated in this large-scale cross-sectional study. NES was assessed using the Nocturnal Eating Questionnaire and categorized as no NES (score < 25), mild NES (25–30), or severe NES (> 30). Food consumption frequency was evaluated across five categories—fruits, vegetables, fast food, snacks, and sugary beverages. The frequency of consuming breakfast, lunch, and dinner was also recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between NES severity and food consumption frequencies and meal-consumption frequency. After adjusting for confounders, NES was positively associated with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, snacks, and sugary beverages, and with more frequent breakfast and lunch consumption. However, no significant associations were observed for fast food or dinner frequency. These findings indicate that NES is associated with distinctive eating patterns among college students and underscore the importance of considering NES when evaluating dietary behaviors in this population.

Figures