Prevalence and Associations of Night Eating Syndrome Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Background: Medical students often experience elevated stress levels and disrupted sleep patterns, increasing the risk of developing Night Eating Syndrome (NES). Depression is prevalent among medical students, further emphasizing the need for investigation. This study aims to explore the occurrence of NES and its associated factors, primarily focusing on depression, among medical students at a university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study involving medical students, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic details, the Night Eating Syndrome Questionnaire (NEQ) with 14 items, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) for depression screening. Results: The study involved 300 medical students, reflecting a diverse sample with an average age of 21.4 +/- 1.9 years and a wellbalanced distribution across academic years. Notably, 41 participants (13.7%) were identified as obese. Depression, as determined by PHQ-2 scores exceeding 3, was prevalent in 159 students (53.0%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis uncovered a significant independent association, revealing that being a second-year medical student was linked to depressive health conditions (odds ratio [OR]: 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-10.10, p = 0.02). Exploring NES, 22 students (7.3%) scored above the NEQ threshold of 25, indicating its presence. Intriguingly, multivariable logistic regression illustrated that the sole independent factor associated with NES was the presence of depression (OR: 4.4, CI: 1.4-13.2, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of NES was 7.3%, and it was found to be associated with depression in medical students. Additionally, being a second-year medical student was independently associated with depression. These findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health issues, including NES and depression, in medical students, particularly during the early stages of their training.