Relationship Between Food Addiction, Night Eating Syndrome and Depression Level in University Students and Affecting Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Türkiye

Food addiction, night eating, and depression levels alone have been associated with obesity and various chronic diseases in university students, but the relationship of these factors has been rarely mentioned in the literature. This research was conducted to determine the food addiction, night eating, and depression status of university students. The study consisted of 1009 (84.2% female, mean BMI 21.93 ± 3.42 kg/m, 73.0% normal body weight) university students. Research data were collected using a web-based questionnaire, which included a personal information form about students' sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional habits and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height), the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Of the students, 15.2% had food addiction, 8.3% had night-eating syndrome, and 36.2% had moderate depression. Frequency of food addiction and night-eating syndrome were higher in those with moderate to severe depression and night-eating syndrome was higher in those with food addiction ( < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between mean YFAS, NEQ, and BDI scores in the general population and both genders ( < 0.001). Furthermore, BMI levels, having received psychological treatment, waking up and eating at night, and depression level increased the likelihood of food addiction, while waking up and eating at night, and depression levels increased the likelihood of night-eating syndrome. The findings of the study made a significant contribution to the literature in understanding food addiction, night eating, depression levels and their relationship with each other in university students. Multi-center studies in which the effects of these three factors are examined together should be conducted on different student populations. Students should be given training on healthy nutrition and mental health protection, and their awareness should be raised.