The effect of circadian rhythm and cortisol levels on health nutrition attitudes, emotional eating, and anthropometric measurements in university students

Dec 17, 2025Physiology & behavior

How daily body clock and stress hormone levels relate to eating habits, feelings about nutrition, and body measurements in university students

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Abstract

The mean salivary cortisol concentration among university students was 69.713 ± 3.408 ng/mL.

  • Lower stress levels are associated with lower cortisol concentrations (p = 0.025).
  • Emotional eating scores are significantly higher among students with intermediate chronotypes and irregular sleep patterns (p < 0.05).
  • Students in nutrition and dietetics exhibit more positive attitudes toward healthy nutrition than nursing students (75.52 ± 10.80 vs. 70.65 ± 10.08; p = 0.001).
  • Circadian rhythm characteristics and perceived stress may influence emotional eating tendencies and health-related attitudes.

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