Chronotype and eating behavior in adults: associations with circadian preference across body mass index categories

Chronotype has been increasingly associated with individual differences in eating behavior and appetite regulation. While evening chronotype has often been linked to less structured eating patterns, evidence regarding specific behavioral dimensions of eating remains heterogeneous. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between chronotype and eating behavior dimensions, considering potential differences across body mass index (BMI) categories and gender. A total of 386 adults completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 18 (TFEQ-R18), assessing cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. Participants were classified as morning, intermediate, or evening chronotypes. Morning chronotype was consistently associated with higher cognitive restraint, particularly among normal-weight individuals and women. No significant differences were observed for uncontrolled eating or emotional eating across chronotypes or BMI categories. Strong positive correlations between uncontrolled eating and emotional eating were observed across all chronotypes. Overall, chronotype appears to be primarily associated with cognitive aspects of eating regulation, highlighting links between circadian preference and day time behavioral self-regulation rather than emotional or uncontrolled eating. These findings suggest that circadian preference may contribute to distinct appetite-related behavioral profiles and support the inclusion of chronotype in behavior-oriented and personalized nutritional approaches.