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Later first and last caloric intake timing is independently associated with lower Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) scores in physically active university students.

In a cross-sectional study of 200 physically active university students, later first and last caloric intake were independently associated with lower MEQ scores (ฮฒ = -0.435 and -0.422, respectively; both p < 0.001), indicating greater eveningness. The model explained 51.1% of the variance in MEQ scores. Evening-type participants had poorer sleep behaviors, longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, more nocturnal awakenings, and poorer subjective sleep quality compared to morning-type participants.

Last updated: Aug 21, 2026โ€ข0 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCTโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Chronotype, temporal eating patterns, and sleep behaviors among physically active university students: A cross-sectional study.

observational

&#xd6;zcan F&#xd6;, Alpaslan B ยท Chronobiology international (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not specified (cross-sectional, data collected over a period of days)
Intervention: None (observational study); assessed timing of first and last caloric intake via three-day food records.
Outcome: Chronotype (MEQ score), sleep behaviors (Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire), sleep characteristics (three-day sleep diary: sleep latency, sleep efficiency, nocturnal awakenings, subjective sleep quality).
Effect Size: ฮฒ = -0.435 (first caloric intake) and ฮฒ = -0.422 (last caloric intake); Rยฒ = 0.511
Population: Physically active university students aged 18-25 years who exercised โ‰ฅ3 days/week and โ‰ฅ150 min/week for the preceding six months (n=200).

Result:

PubMed: 42603132DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2718346

Mechanism Graph

Later first caloric intake may shift circadian phase, delaying the internal clock.
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Later last caloric intake may affect metabolic signals that influence sleep-wake timing.
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Evening chronotype is associated with poorer sleep behaviors and sleep quality.
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Result: Later meal timing is associated with greater eveningness and less favorable sleep characteristics.

Limitations

  • โš Cross-sectional design; causality and temporal direction cannot be inferred.
  • โš Single-university sample limits generalizability to other populations.
  • โš Dietary intake and sleep were self-reported, potentially introducing recall bias.
  • โš No adjustment for potential confounders like physical activity intensity or academic schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?โ–ผ

Later first and last caloric intake timing is independently associated with lower MEQ scores, indicating a shift toward eveningness, in physically active university students.

How was chronotype measured?โ–ผ

Chronotype was measured using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), with lower scores indicating eveningness.

Did total energy or macronutrient intake affect sleep outcomes?โ–ผ

No, total energy and macronutrient intake were unrelated to the evaluated sleep outcomes.

Can we conclude that eating later causes worse sleep?โ–ผ

No, because the study is cross-sectional, so causality and temporal direction cannot be inferred.

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References

  1. 1.&#xd6;zcan F&#xd6;, Alpaslan B. "Chronotype, temporal eating patterns, and sleep behaviors among physically active university students: A cross-sectional study.." Chronobiology international, 2026. PMID: 42603132 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2718346
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.