Evening chronotype increases emotional appetite and diabetes risk

This study aims to assess the association between chronotype and emotional eating, type 2 diabetes risk and nutrient intakes in university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 350 young adults (235 females and 115 males). The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire to determine the chronotypes of the individuals, the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire to assess emotional appetite, and the Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Score to determine the risk of type-2 diabetes were administered face-to-face by the researchers. Anthropometric measurements such as body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and body composition analysis were performed. In addition, information on dietary intake was collected using the 24-hour dietary recall method. Chronotype was found to be inversely associated with negative emotional eating (beta = -0.057, p < 0.05, R-2 : 0.036) and type-2 diabetes risk (beta = -0.366, p < 0.05, R-2 : 0.036), after the model was adjusted for gender, age, and body mass index. A negative correlation was observed between chronotype and body mass index (r = -0.122, p < 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between chronotype and positive emotional eating and food intake. There was no significant difference in food intake according to diabetes risk. Negative emotional eating was statistically positively correlated with body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass index (r = 0.252, p = 0.000; r = 0.284, p = 0.000; r = 0.260, p = 0.000; r = 0.262, p = 0.000, respectively). As body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index and visceral fat area increased, the risk of diabetes increased. Unhealthy eating habits in university students may lead to obesity and disrupt the circadian rhythm. This may cause individuals with evening chronotype to be more at risk for negative emotional appetite and diabetes risk.