Night eating behavior, sleep quality, body composition, and type 2 diabetes risk among Saudi Arabian females: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

A study of Saudi Arabian females found that eating at night is linked to poor sleep but not to diabetes risk.

Contribution

This study provides new insights into night eating behavior's impact on sleep and diabetes risk in a young, healthy population.

Findings

Night eating behavior was not associated with increased diabetes risk.

Greater night eating severity was linked to poorer sleep quality and disturbances.

Associations with body composition were weak and not statistically significant after correction.

Abstract

Night eating behavior has been linked to circadian disruption and adverse metabolic outcomes, yet evidence remains inconsistent, particularly in young and metabolically healthy populations. This cross-sectional study examined associations between night eating behavior, sleep quality, body composition, and type 2 diabetes risk among 150 Saudi Arabian females. Night eating severity, sleep quality, and diabetes risk were assessed using validated questionnaires, and anthropometric and body composition measures were obtained using standardized procedures. Associations were evaluated using correlation analyses with false discovery rate correction, and multivariable linear regression was used to account for potential confounders. Night eating behavior was not associated with diabetes risk, as neither the overall night eating severity nor its subscales showed meaningful relationships with diabetes risk scores (all p > 0.05). Associations between night eating behavior and body composition measures were weak and did not remain significant after correction for multiple testing. In contrast, greater night eating severity, particularly nocturnal ingestions, was associated with poorer sleep-related outcomes, including longer sleep latency and increased sleep disturbances. Night eating severity remained independently associated with sleep disturbances after adjustment for age and body mass index (β = 0.336, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that, in young Saudi Arabian females, night eating behavior is not associated with current diabetes risk but is more closely linked to sleep disruption.

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