intake was positively correlated with both night eating and sleep quality scores.
A total of 1111 adults aged 18–65 years participated in the study.
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is associated with an increase in .
UPF intake is linked to poorer sleep quality, as indicated by higher (PSQI) scores.
Night eating behavior is correlated with reduced sleep quality.
Independent factors influencing UPF intake include age, marital status, number of meals and snacks, and night eating behavior.
Simplified
BACKGROUND: (UPF) consumption and are increasingly common in modern dietary patterns and may negatively affect sleep quality. While each factor has been independently associated with adverse health outcomes, their combined influence on sleep-related well-being is less understood.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1111 adults aged 18–65 years from Türkiye. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire, including the Screening Questionnaire for Highly Processed Food Consumption (sQ-HPF), Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and (PSQI). Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between UPF intake, night eating behavior, and sleep quality.
RESULTS: UPF intake was positively correlated with both night eating ( = 0.288, < 0.001) and PSQI scores ( = 0.216, < 0.001). Night eating was also positively associated with poorer sleep quality ( = 0.285, < 0.001). Regression analyses showed that age, marital status, number of meals and snacks, NEQ scores, and PSQI scores were independently associated with UPF intake. NEQ and UPF scores were also independently associated with poor sleep quality. r P r P r p
CONCLUSION: UPF consumption and night eating behavior appear to be important behavioral factors associated with reduced sleep quality. Interventions targeting these dietary behaviors may contribute not only to improved sleep health but also to enhanced overall quality of life in adults.
Key numbers
63.8%
Prevalence of Poor Sleep Quality
Percentage of participants identified as poor sleepers based on scores.
41.9% of individuals
High Consumers
Percentage of participants classified as high consumers of ultra-processed foods.
6.7
Mean Score
Average score on the among participants.
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Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the University of Health Sciences Gülhane Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2024/570), and conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation. All collected data were kept confidential, anonymized prior to analysis, and stored securely to protect participant privacy. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
