The association between sleep timing characteristics and food addiction in adolescents

Previous research has repeatedly shown that social jetlag is accompanied by metabolic disorders and obesity. However, the mechanism of association between these phenomena has not been sufficiently studied. This study aims to test the hypothesis that social jetlag is associated with an increased incidence of eating disorders and thus increases the risk of metabolic disorders. The study included 11,535 adolescents (M ± SD 14.2 ± 1.6) aged 13–18 y, with girls accounting for 58.3%. The state of the circadian system and sleep function were assessed using the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ), and food addiction was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C). Data obtained indicate that in adolescents with insufficient sleep (less than 8 h) (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.49–0.63) and late chronotype (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12–1.38) the frequency of detection of food addiction is increased. A non-linear J-shaped association between social jetlag and food addiction was noted with a maximal detection rate of food addiction in schoolchildren with negative (p < 0.0001) and high (more than 2 h) social jetlag (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the frequency of detection of food addiction is increased in adolescents with insufficient sleep duration, late chronotype and negative social jetlag.