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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Assessment of night eating syndrome and circadian-related characteristics among university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad

  • Muqadsa Arshad1
  • Humaira Mahmood2
  • Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad3,4
  • Abdullah Ijaz1
  • Tehreem Zainab1
  • Yasir Waheed5,6,7,8
  • Saleh A. Alsanie9,10
10 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Public Health, Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI), National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  2. 2School of Public Health, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
  3. 3Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, NUST School of Health Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
  4. 4Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
  5. 5NUST School of Health Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
  6. 6Irfan Suat Gunsel Operational Research Institute, Near East University, Nicosia, Mersin, Türkiye
  7. 7Faculty of Health Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary
  8. 8Department of Health Sciences, VIZJA University, Warsaw, Poland
  9. 9Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
  10. 10Department of Clinical Nutrition, Medical City, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases are associated with lifestyle behaviors such as diet, meal timing, levels of stress, quality of sleep, and disruption of circadian rhythms. Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is an abnormal eating behavior characterized by eating at night and/or eating after the last meal of the day. NES may be associated with sleep disturbances and/or circadian-related characteristics. University students are particularly susceptible to the development of NES due to academic stress, irregular schedules, increased exposure to screens, and late nights.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of Night Eating Syndrome and to examine the relationships between Night Eating Syndrome and sleep-related characteristics, circadian-related characteristics (diurnal preference), and mood among university students in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 335 undergraduate university students at four universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using structured questionnaires including sociodemographic questions, the Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire, and the Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, and Mood questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 27. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Welch’s ANOVA with Games–Howell post-hoc comparisons, multiple linear regression, Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, and Pearson chi-square test were used, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The Prevalence of Night Eating Syndrome was 6% (n = 18; 95% CI: 3.2–8.4%). Severity-based classification showed that 51.0% had normal scores, 26.3% had mild symptoms, 17.3% had moderate symptoms, and 6% met the NEDQ criteria for NES. There were significant differences between NES severity groups in Morningness and Good Sleep scores (p < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in Depressed Mood scores (p = 0.159). In adjusted regression models, NES status was significantly associated with Good Sleep scores, while sex was associated with Morningness and BMI was associated with Depressed Mood. BMI category was significantly associated with NES status (Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, p = 0.002) and NES severity (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Night Eating Syndrome and related symptoms were present among university students, with increasing symptom severity associated with differences in Morningness and Good Sleep scores, while Depressed Mood did not differ significantly across severity categories. These findings suggest the possible significance of health promotion initiatives conducted through universities emphasizing good sleep hygiene, regular meal time and early identification of night eating symptoms.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{arshad2026assessment,
  title = {{Assessment of night eating syndrome and circadian-related characteristics among university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad}},
  author = {Muqadsa Arshad and Humaira Mahmood and Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad and Abdullah Ijaz and Tehreem Zainab and Yasir Waheed and Saleh A. Alsanie},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1932196},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1932196},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Assessment of night eating syndrome and circadian-related characteristics among university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad
AU  - Muqadsa Arshad
AU  - Humaira Mahmood
AU  - Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad
AU  - Abdullah Ijaz
AU  - Tehreem Zainab
AU  - Yasir Waheed
AU  - Saleh A. Alsanie
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/12
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1932196
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1932196
AB  - Introduction: Non-communicable diseases are associated with lifestyle behaviors such as diet, meal timing, levels of stress, quality of sleep, and disruption of circadian rhythms. Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is an abnormal eating behavior characterized by eating at night and/or eating after the last meal of the day. NES may be associated with sleep disturbances and/or circadian-related characteristics. University students are particularly susceptible to the development of NES due to academic stress, irregular schedules, increased exposure to screens, and late nights.  Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of Night Eating Syndrome and to examine the relationships between Night Eating Syndrome and sleep-related characteristics, circadian-related characteristics (diurnal preference), and mood among university students in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.  Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 335 undergraduate university students at four universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using structured questionnaires including sociodemographic questions, the Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire, and the Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, and Mood questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 27. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Welch’s ANOVA with Games–Howell post-hoc comparisons, multiple linear regression, Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, and Pearson chi-square test were used, with significance set at p < 0.05.  Results: The Prevalence of Night Eating Syndrome was 6% (n = 18; 95% CI: 3.2–8.4%). Severity-based classification showed that 51.0% had normal scores, 26.3% had mild symptoms, 17.3% had moderate symptoms, and 6% met the NEDQ criteria for NES. There were significant differences between NES severity groups in Morningness and Good Sleep scores (p < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in Depressed Mood scores (p = 0.159). In adjusted regression models, NES status was significantly associated with Good Sleep scores, while sex was associated with Morningness and BMI was associated with Depressed Mood. BMI category was significantly associated with NES status (Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, p = 0.002) and NES severity (p < 0.001).  Conclusion: Night Eating Syndrome and related symptoms were present among university students, with increasing symptom severity associated with differences in Morningness and Good Sleep scores, while Depressed Mood did not differ significantly across severity categories. These findings suggest the possible significance of health promotion initiatives conducted through universities emphasizing good sleep hygiene, regular meal time and early identification of night eating symptoms.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -