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

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.