The eveningness predicts obesity through food craving and hedonic hunger in young adults

Abstract

Chronotype can influence eating behaviors, which may contribute to obesity risk. Eveningness may be associated with obesity through eating behavior motivations such as hedonic hunger and food cravings. This study aimed to investigate the association between chronotype and obesity, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of hedonic hunger and food craving. This cross-sectional descriptive study was completed through a face-to-face survey with 562 students aged 18-30. The Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi), Power of Food Scale (PFS) and Food Craving Inventory (FCI-TR) were used, and anthropometric measurements were calculated. A strong positive correlation was found between eveningness and FCI-TR total score (r = 0.588), BMI (r = 0.670) and PFS total score (r = 0.705, p < 0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between BMI and FCI-TR total score (r = 0.613) and PFS total score (r = 0.646, p < 0.05). Eveningness, food craving, and hedonic hunger together explained 47.8% of the total variance in BMI (with age and gender as control variables). A positive relationship was found between eveningness, food cravings, hedonic hunger, and obesity. Eveningness significantly predicted BMI through food craving and hedonic hunger. This emphasises the critical importance of evaluating in terms of chronotype, food craving, and hedonic hunger in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity.