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Evening chronotype is associated with unhealthy eating behaviors including meal skipping, delayed meal timings, unhealthy snacking, and lower intake of fiber and key micronutrients among Pakistani university students.

In a cross-sectional study of 345 Pakistani university students, evening chronotypes (16.5% of sample) exhibited significantly more unhealthy eating behaviors such as meal skipping, delayed meal timings, and unhealthy snacking, along with lower breakfast energy and reduced intake of fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus compared to morning chronotypes. However, no significant association was found between chronotype and overall nutritional status (BMI or anthropometric measures).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effect of chronotype on nutritional status and eating behaviors among university students of Pakistan.

observational

Naseem A, Safdar M · Chronobiology international (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: cross-sectional (single time point)
Intervention: Chronotype classification (morning, intermediate, evening) assessed via Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ)
Outcome: Eating behaviors (meal skipping, meal timings, snacking, breakfast energy), nutrient intake (fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus), and nutritional status (anthropometry)
Effect Size: N/A (only p-values reported, e.g., p ≤ 0.05)
Population: 345 university students in Pakistan (63.2% male, 36.8% female)

Result:

PubMed: 42154633DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2674039

Mechanism Graph

Circadian preference (chronotype) influences timing and regularity of food intake
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Evening types have delayed sleep-wake cycles leading to irregular meal patterns
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Irregular eating leads to meal skipping, unhealthy snacking, and lower nutrient intake
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Result: Evening chronotype associated with poorer dietary quality but not with altered nutritional status

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference between chronotype and eating behaviors
  • ⚠Dietary assessment via 3-day recall may be subject to recall bias and may not capture habitual intake

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chronotype?▼

Chronotype refers to an individual's natural preference for sleep and activity timing, typically categorized as morning, intermediate, or evening type.

How was chronotype measured in this study?▼

Chronotype was assessed using the Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), a validated self-report tool.

Did evening chronotype affect nutritional status?▼

No, the study found no significant association between chronotype and nutritional status (e.g., BMI or anthropometric measures).

Which nutrients were lower in evening chronotypes?▼

Evening chronotypes, particularly males, had lower intake of fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus.

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References

  1. 1.Naseem A, Safdar M. "Effect of chronotype on nutritional status and eating behaviors among university students of Pakistan.." Chronobiology international, 2026. PMID: 42154633 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2674039
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.