Association between chronotype, eating behaviors, and Mediterranean diet adherence among overweight and obese women

Background Chronotype, which reflects individual circadian preference, has a limited evidence base regarding its relationship with eating behaviors and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among overweight and obese women. Aim This study aimed to examine the association between chronotype, eating behaviors, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among overweight and obese women. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye and included 181 overweight and obese women attending a nutrition outpatient clinic. Chronotype was assessed using the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), eating behaviors using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and Mediterranean diet adherence using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Results Among the participants, 22.7% were classified as morning type, 59.1% as intermediate type, and 18.2% as evening type. Mediterranean diet adherence scores differed significantly across chronotype groups and were significantly higher in the morning chronotype group compared with the intermediate and evening groups ( p = 0.001). Emotional eating scores ( p = 0.037), external eating scores ( p < 0.001), and total DEBQ scores ( p = 0.018) were significantly higher among women with an evening chronotype. No significant difference was observed in restrained eating scores across chronotype groups ( p = 0.777). Conclusion Chronotype was associated with eating behaviors and Mediterranean diet adherence among overweight and obese women. Morning chronotypes demonstrated healthier eating behavior patterns and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, whereas evening chronotypes exhibited higher emotional and external eating tendencies. These findings suggest that chronotype may be an important factor to consider in nutritional counseling and obesity management.