Associations of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Night Eating With GI Symptom-Specific Anxiety in...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder often accompanied by metabolic disturbances, night eating patterns, and gastrointestinal-related distress. This cross-sectional study examined the associations between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, night eating symptoms, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptom-specific anxiety in 205 women (aged 18-50 years) with a physician-confirmed PCOS diagnosis. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing UPF consumption (sQ-HPF), the severity of night eating symptoms (NEQ), and GI-specific anxiety (VSI), alongside self-reported anthropometric measurements. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify independent associations, adjusting for body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and socioeconomic status. While higher UPF consumption was significantly associated with increased NEQ scores and higher GI-specific anxiety in bivariate analyses, its independent influence was attenuated in final adjusted regression models. In these adjusted models, GI-specific anxiety and BMI were independently associated with NEQ scores (p < 0.05), while night eating symptoms emerged as a primary factor associated with GI-specific anxiety (p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses, including subgroup analysis for BMI < 35 kg/m² and multivariate models excluding BMI as a covariate, confirmed that the observed associations remained robust. These findings suggest a behavioral and dietary interplay where UPF consumption and night eating symptoms are linked to GI-specific anxiety in women with PCOS. Considering that lifestyle modification is a cornerstone of PCOS management, integrating the assessment of dietary patterns and night eating into routine care may support a more comprehensive approach. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the directional nature of these associations linking UPF exposure, night eating symptoms, and psychological GI distress in this population.