The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake

Mahmut Bodur; Meral Cittir; Egera Kundakçı

doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657

Research Article

The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 450 - 458, 26.06.2025

Mahmut Bodur , Meral Cittir , Egera Kundakçı

https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Night Eating Syndrome (NES), sleep quality, and energy and macronutrient intake in young adults aged 18-24 years. In this cross-sectional design, NES status was assessed using the Night Eating Questionnaire, while sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Dietary intake was collected via 24-hour dietary recall and categorised into main meals, snacks and night meals. Individuals with NES reported significantly higher total daily intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate and saturated fat (p < 0.05), with night meals contributing most to this increase. Linear regression analysis showed that night-time energy intake (β = 0.0075; p < 0.001), PSQI score (β = 0.4606; p = 0.0019) and age (β = -0.4463; p = 0.0048) were significant predictors of NES severity. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of NES and the need to consider both sleep quality and the timing of nutrient intake in its assessment and management. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are required to explore causal pathways and develop targeted strategies for prevention and treatment, particularly in young adult populations at increased risk.

Keywords

Meal Timing, Night Eating Syndrome, Nutrient Intake, Sleep Quality

References

1. Allison KC, Lundgren JD, O'Reardon JP, Martino NS, Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, et al. The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ): psychometric properties of a measure of severity of the Night Eating Syndrome. Eat Behav. 2008;9(1):62-72.
2. Vander Wal JS. Night eating syndrome: a critical review of the literature. Clin Psychol Rev. 2012;32(1):49-59.
3. American Psychiatric A. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2013.
4. Alwafa RA, Jallad S, Al-Sheikh RA, Adwan R, Badrasawi M. Relationship between night eating syndrome and sleep quality among university students in Palestine. Sleep Science and Practice. 2024;8(1).
5. Sakthivel SJ, Hay P, Mannan H. A Scoping Review on the Association between Night Eating Syndrome and Physical Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, Sleep and Weight Status in Adults. Nutrients. 2023;15(12).
6. Yoshida J, Eguchi E, Nagaoka K, Ito T, Ogino K. Association of night eating habits with metabolic syndrome and its components: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1366.
7. St-Onge MP, Grandner MA, Brown D, Conroy MB, Jean-Louis G, Coons M, et al. Sleep Duration and Quality: Impact on Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016;134(18):e367-e86.
8. O'Reardon JP, Peshek A, Allison KC. Night eating syndrome : diagnosis, epidemiology and management. CNS Drugs. 2005;19(12):997-1008.
9. Striegel-Moore RH, Franko DL, Thompson D, Affenito S, May A, Kraemer HC. Exploring the typology of night eating syndrome. Int J Eat Disord. 2008;41(5):411-8.
10. Johnston JD, Ordovas JM, Scheer FA, Turek FW. Circadian Rhythms, Metabolism, and Chrononutrition in Rodents and Humans. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(2):399-406.
11. Gallant AR, Lundgren J, Drapeau V. The night-eating syndrome and obesity. Obes Rev. 2012;13(6):528-36.
12. Goel N, Stunkard AJ, Rogers NL, Van Dongen HP, Allison KC, O'Reardon JP, et al. Circadian rhythm profiles in women with night eating syndrome. J Biol Rhythms. 2009;24(1):85-94.
13. Chung N, Bin YS, Cistulli PA, Chow CM. Does the Proximity of Meals to Bedtime Influence the Sleep of Young Adults? A Cross-Sectional Survey of University Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(8).
14. Pinto TF, Silva FG, Bruin VM, Bruin PF. Night eating syndrome: How to treat it? Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2016;62(7):701-7.
15. Atasoy N, Saracli O, Konuk N, Ankarali H, Guriz S, Akdemir A, et al. The reliability and validity of Turkish version of The Night Eating Questionnaire in psychiatric outpatient population. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry. 2014;15(3).
16. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193-213.
17. Ağargün MY, Kara, H., & Anlar, O. Pittsburgh uyku kalitesi indeksinin geçerliği ve güvenirliği. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 1996;7:107-15.
18. Obesity WCo. Obesity : preventing and managing the global epidemic : report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organization2000.
19. Rakıcıoğlu N, Tek, N., Ayaz, A., & Pekcan, A. G. Yemek ve Besin Fotoğraf Kataloğu Ölçü ve Miktarlar. Ankara: Ata Ofset Matbaacılık; 2010.
20. Almoosawi S, Vingeliene S, Karagounis LG, Pot GK. Chrono-nutrition: a review of current evidence from observational studies on global trends in time-of-day of energy intake and its association with obesity. Proc Nutr Soc. 2016;75(4):487-500.
21. Garaulet M, Gomez-Abellan P, Alburquerque-Bejar JJ, Lee YC, Ordovas JM, Scheer FA. Timing of food intake predicts weight loss effectiveness. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013;37(4):604-11.
22. Anthonisamy AN, Misra S, Barua A. Prevalence of night eating syndrome among inbound call centre employees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nutr Health. 2023;29(3):505-12.
23. Kazgan Kılıçaslan A, Oktay M, Kurt O. Night-Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Eating Mindfulness in Psychiatric Outpatients. Istanbul Medical Journal. 2024:190-8.
24. Köse AG, Sarıkaya B, İçer MA. Evaluation of the Effects of Night Eating Syndrome and Mindful Eating on Sleep Quality Among Female Students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2024;13(4):1496-506.
25. Ni Y, Wu L, Jiang J, Yang T, Wang Z, Ma L, et al. Late-Night Eating-Induced Physiological Dysregulation and Circadian Misalignment Are Accompanied by Microbial Dysbiosis. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2019;63(24):e1900867.
26. Allison KC, Wadden TA, Sarwer DB, Fabricatore AN, Crerand CE, Gibbons LM, et al. Night eating syndrome and binge eating disorder among persons seeking bariatric surgery: prevalence and related features. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006;14 Suppl 2:77S-82S.
27. Imai S, Saito Y, Kajiyama S, Nitta A, Miyawaki T, Matsumoto S, et al. Late-night-dinner deteriorates postprandial glucose and insulin whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover clinical trial. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2020;29(1):68-76.
28. Barragan R, Tam V, Scaccia S, Cochran J, RoyChoudhury A, St-Onge M-P. Abstract MP58: Eating Behaviors Influence Diet Quality: Impact Of Sleep Restriction. Circulation. 2022;145(Suppl_1).
29. Donnelly M, Woolf K. Nighttime Eating Is Associated with Poor Diet Quality in Adult Females (P21-055-19). Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019;3.
30. Lent MR, Atwood M, Bennett WL, Woolf TB, Martin L, Zhao D, et al. Night eating, weight, and health behaviors in adults participating in the Daily24 study. Eat Behav. 2022;45:101605.
31. Sayed Ahmed HA, Abo El-Ela SG, Joudeh AI, Moawd SM, El Hayek S, Shah J, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Night Eating Syndrome, Insomnia, and Psychological Distress in Primary Care Patients with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Obes Facts. 2024;17(3):274-85.
32. Akbar Z, Shi Z. Unfavorable Mealtime, Meal Skipping, and Shiftwork Are Associated with Circadian Syndrome in Adults Participating in NHANES 2005-2016. Nutrients. 2024;16(11).
33. Depner CM, Stothard ER, Wright KP, Jr. Metabolic consequences of sleep and circadian disorders. Curr Diab Rep. 2014;14(7):507.
34. Tzischinsky O, Tokatly Latzer I, Alon S, Latzer Y. Sleep Quality and Eating Disorder-Related Psychopathologies in Patients with Night Eating Syndrome and Binge Eating Disorders. J Clin Med. 2021;10(19).
35. Grummon AH, Sokol RL, Lytle LA. Is late bedtime an overlooked sleep behaviour? Investigating associations between sleep timing, sleep duration and eating behaviours in adolescence and adulthood. Public Health Nutr. 2021;24(7):1671-7.
36. Striegel-Moore RH, Franko DL, Thompson D, Affenito S, Kraemer HC. Night eating: prevalence and demographic correlates. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006;14(1):139-47.

Gece Yeme Sendromu, Uyku Kalitesi ve Beslenme İlişkisi: Öğün Bazlı Besin Alımı Üzerine Bir Analiz

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 450 - 458, 26.06.2025

Mahmut Bodur , Meral Cittir , Egera Kundakçı

https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, 18-24 yaş arası genç yetişkinlerde Gece Yeme Sendromu (GYS) ile uyku kalitesi, enerji ve makro besin ögesi alımı arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Kesitsel tasarıma sahip bu çalışmada, GYS durumu Gece Yeme Anketi ile değerlendirilmiş, uyku kalitesi ise Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PUKİ) kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Bireylerin diyet alımı 24 saatlik besin tüketim kaydı ile toplanmış ve bu kayıtlar ana öğünler, ara öğünler ve gece öğünleri olarak kategorize edilmiştir. GYS olan bireyler, toplam günlük enerji, protein, karbonhidrat ve doymuş yağ alımlarının anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek olduğunu bildirmiştir (p < 0.05); bu artışın en büyük kısmı gece öğünlerinden kaynaklanmaktadır. Doğrusal regresyon analizi, gece zamanı enerji alımı (β = 0.0075; p < 0.001), PUKİ puanı (β = 0.4606; p = 0.0019) ve yaş (β = -0.4463; p = 0.0048) değişkenlerinin GYS şiddetinin anlamlı yordayıcıları olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu bulgular, GYS'nin çok etmenli bir yapıya sahip olduğunu ve değerlendirme ile yönetiminde uyku kalitesi ile birlikte besin alım zamanlamasının da göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Özellikle risk altındaki genç yetişkin popülasyonlarda, nedensel ilişkileri incelemek ve önleme ile tedaviye yönelik hedefe dayalı stratejiler geliştirmek amacıyla ileriye dönük ve müdahale temelli çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

Öğün Zamanlaması, Gece Yeme Sendromu, Besin Ögesi Alımı, Uyku Kalitesi

References

1. Allison KC, Lundgren JD, O'Reardon JP, Martino NS, Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, et al. The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ): psychometric properties of a measure of severity of the Night Eating Syndrome. Eat Behav. 2008;9(1):62-72.
2. Vander Wal JS. Night eating syndrome: a critical review of the literature. Clin Psychol Rev. 2012;32(1):49-59.
3. American Psychiatric A. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2013.
4. Alwafa RA, Jallad S, Al-Sheikh RA, Adwan R, Badrasawi M. Relationship between night eating syndrome and sleep quality among university students in Palestine. Sleep Science and Practice. 2024;8(1).
5. Sakthivel SJ, Hay P, Mannan H. A Scoping Review on the Association between Night Eating Syndrome and Physical Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, Sleep and Weight Status in Adults. Nutrients. 2023;15(12).
6. Yoshida J, Eguchi E, Nagaoka K, Ito T, Ogino K. Association of night eating habits with metabolic syndrome and its components: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1366.
7. St-Onge MP, Grandner MA, Brown D, Conroy MB, Jean-Louis G, Coons M, et al. Sleep Duration and Quality: Impact on Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016;134(18):e367-e86.
8. O'Reardon JP, Peshek A, Allison KC. Night eating syndrome : diagnosis, epidemiology and management. CNS Drugs. 2005;19(12):997-1008.
9. Striegel-Moore RH, Franko DL, Thompson D, Affenito S, May A, Kraemer HC. Exploring the typology of night eating syndrome. Int J Eat Disord. 2008;41(5):411-8.
10. Johnston JD, Ordovas JM, Scheer FA, Turek FW. Circadian Rhythms, Metabolism, and Chrononutrition in Rodents and Humans. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(2):399-406.
11. Gallant AR, Lundgren J, Drapeau V. The night-eating syndrome and obesity. Obes Rev. 2012;13(6):528-36.
12. Goel N, Stunkard AJ, Rogers NL, Van Dongen HP, Allison KC, O'Reardon JP, et al. Circadian rhythm profiles in women with night eating syndrome. J Biol Rhythms. 2009;24(1):85-94.
13. Chung N, Bin YS, Cistulli PA, Chow CM. Does the Proximity of Meals to Bedtime Influence the Sleep of Young Adults? A Cross-Sectional Survey of University Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(8).
14. Pinto TF, Silva FG, Bruin VM, Bruin PF. Night eating syndrome: How to treat it? Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2016;62(7):701-7.
15. Atasoy N, Saracli O, Konuk N, Ankarali H, Guriz S, Akdemir A, et al. The reliability and validity of Turkish version of The Night Eating Questionnaire in psychiatric outpatient population. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry. 2014;15(3).
16. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193-213.
17. Ağargün MY, Kara, H., & Anlar, O. Pittsburgh uyku kalitesi indeksinin geçerliği ve güvenirliği. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 1996;7:107-15.
18. Obesity WCo. Obesity : preventing and managing the global epidemic : report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organization2000.
19. Rakıcıoğlu N, Tek, N., Ayaz, A., & Pekcan, A. G. Yemek ve Besin Fotoğraf Kataloğu Ölçü ve Miktarlar. Ankara: Ata Ofset Matbaacılık; 2010.
20. Almoosawi S, Vingeliene S, Karagounis LG, Pot GK. Chrono-nutrition: a review of current evidence from observational studies on global trends in time-of-day of energy intake and its association with obesity. Proc Nutr Soc. 2016;75(4):487-500.
21. Garaulet M, Gomez-Abellan P, Alburquerque-Bejar JJ, Lee YC, Ordovas JM, Scheer FA. Timing of food intake predicts weight loss effectiveness. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013;37(4):604-11.
22. Anthonisamy AN, Misra S, Barua A. Prevalence of night eating syndrome among inbound call centre employees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nutr Health. 2023;29(3):505-12.
23. Kazgan Kılıçaslan A, Oktay M, Kurt O. Night-Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Eating Mindfulness in Psychiatric Outpatients. Istanbul Medical Journal. 2024:190-8.
24. Köse AG, Sarıkaya B, İçer MA. Evaluation of the Effects of Night Eating Syndrome and Mindful Eating on Sleep Quality Among Female Students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2024;13(4):1496-506.
25. Ni Y, Wu L, Jiang J, Yang T, Wang Z, Ma L, et al. Late-Night Eating-Induced Physiological Dysregulation and Circadian Misalignment Are Accompanied by Microbial Dysbiosis. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2019;63(24):e1900867.
26. Allison KC, Wadden TA, Sarwer DB, Fabricatore AN, Crerand CE, Gibbons LM, et al. Night eating syndrome and binge eating disorder among persons seeking bariatric surgery: prevalence and related features. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006;14 Suppl 2:77S-82S.
27. Imai S, Saito Y, Kajiyama S, Nitta A, Miyawaki T, Matsumoto S, et al. Late-night-dinner deteriorates postprandial glucose and insulin whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover clinical trial. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2020;29(1):68-76.
28. Barragan R, Tam V, Scaccia S, Cochran J, RoyChoudhury A, St-Onge M-P. Abstract MP58: Eating Behaviors Influence Diet Quality: Impact Of Sleep Restriction. Circulation. 2022;145(Suppl_1).
29. Donnelly M, Woolf K. Nighttime Eating Is Associated with Poor Diet Quality in Adult Females (P21-055-19). Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019;3.
30. Lent MR, Atwood M, Bennett WL, Woolf TB, Martin L, Zhao D, et al. Night eating, weight, and health behaviors in adults participating in the Daily24 study. Eat Behav. 2022;45:101605.
31. Sayed Ahmed HA, Abo El-Ela SG, Joudeh AI, Moawd SM, El Hayek S, Shah J, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Night Eating Syndrome, Insomnia, and Psychological Distress in Primary Care Patients with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Obes Facts. 2024;17(3):274-85.
32. Akbar Z, Shi Z. Unfavorable Mealtime, Meal Skipping, and Shiftwork Are Associated with Circadian Syndrome in Adults Participating in NHANES 2005-2016. Nutrients. 2024;16(11).
33. Depner CM, Stothard ER, Wright KP, Jr. Metabolic consequences of sleep and circadian disorders. Curr Diab Rep. 2014;14(7):507.
34. Tzischinsky O, Tokatly Latzer I, Alon S, Latzer Y. Sleep Quality and Eating Disorder-Related Psychopathologies in Patients with Night Eating Syndrome and Binge Eating Disorders. J Clin Med. 2021;10(19).
35. Grummon AH, Sokol RL, Lytle LA. Is late bedtime an overlooked sleep behaviour? Investigating associations between sleep timing, sleep duration and eating behaviours in adolescence and adulthood. Public Health Nutr. 2021;24(7):1671-7.
36. Striegel-Moore RH, Franko DL, Thompson D, Affenito S, Kraemer HC. Night eating: prevalence and demographic correlates. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006;14(1):139-47.

There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language	English
Subjects	Public Health Nutrition
Journal Section	Articles
Authors	Mahmut Bodur 0000-0002-2105-8485 Meral Cittir 0009-0007-0324-9871 Egera Kundakçı 0009-0005-6809-8862
Publication Date	June 26, 2025
Submission Date	March 28, 2025
Acceptance Date	May 14, 2025
Published in Issue	Year 2025 Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Cite

APA	Bodur, M., Cittir, M., & Kundakçı, E. (2025). The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(2), 450-458. https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657
AMA	Bodur M, Cittir M, Kundakçı E. The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake. Gümüşhane Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. June 2025;14(2):450-458. doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657
Chicago	Bodur, Mahmut, Meral Cittir, and Egera Kundakçı. “The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake”. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14, no. 2 (June 2025): 450-58. https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657.
EndNote	Bodur M, Cittir M, Kundakçı E (June 1, 2025) The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14 2 450–458.
IEEE	M. Bodur, M. Cittir, and E. Kundakçı, “The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake”, Gümüşhane Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 450–458, 2025, doi: 10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657.
ISNAD	Bodur, Mahmut et al. “The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake”. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14/2 (June 2025), 450-458. https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657.
JAMA	Bodur M, Cittir M, Kundakçı E. The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake. Gümüşhane Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14:450–458.
MLA	Bodur, Mahmut et al. “The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake”. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, 2025, pp. 450-8, doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.1667657.
Vancouver	Bodur M, Cittir M, Kundakçı E. The Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Nutrition: An Analysis of Meal-Based Nutrient Intake. Gümüşhane Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14(2):450-8.

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