The association of sleep quality and chronotype with fat preference among university students: A cross-sectional study
Chronobiology International, vol.43, no.7, pp.1065-1073, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 43 Issue: 7
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2648749
- Journal Name: Chronobiology International
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Environment Index, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
- Page Numbers: pp.1065-1073
- Keywords: chronotype, eveningness, Fat preference, morningness, sleep quality
- Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The increasing consumption of high-fat, energy-dense diets has contributed to the global rise in obesity and related chronic diseases. Fat preference is a multifactorial behavior potentially influenced by circadian rhythms and sleep-related factors. We aimed to investigate how these factors are associated with spontaneous preferences for high-fat foods among university students (n = 395). Fat preference was assessed using the Fat Preference Questionnaire (FPQ), sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, chronotype with the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire, and physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants (73.6% female; mean age 21.17 ± 1.74 y; mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 21.76 ± 3.66 kg/m2) showed significant gender differences: males had higher TASTE and FREQ scores (p < 0.001), whereas females had higher DIFF scores (p = 0.004). DIFF scores differed between normal-weight individuals and those with overweight (p = 0.016). BMI was positively correlated with TASTE score overall and in males, and with DIFF score in females (p < 0.05). Chronotype had a weak but significantly negative correlation with TASTE and FREQ scores (p < 0.05) and was inversely associated with sleep quality (p < 0.001). Physical activity was not significantly associated with fat preference indices. Fat preference appears to be influenced by gender, BMI, chronotype, and nutrition-related education. Circadian-informed and behaviorally tailored interventions may support strategies to reduce high-fat food consumption.