Evaluation of the Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and the Circadian Rhythm in Adults

Night Eating Syndrome (NES) involves consuming over 25% of daily energy at night, twice weekly. This cross-sectional study explores NES links with chronotype, depression, anxiety, and stress in 543 adults. Individuals with NES tend to have a morning preference (morningness) and exhibit higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings indicated a significant positive correlation among increased depression, anxiety, and stress scores and elevated NES scores. Adjusted regression models revealed significant associations between NES and higher chronotype (β = 114 ± .037, P < .002) and stress scores (β = 433 ± .108, P < .001). This study highlights NES connections with chronotype and stress in adults, offering insights for future research.