eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 2347-467X 2322-0007 2026-10-16 14 3 27008 article Rola Adnan Jalloun 1 Department of Clinical Nutrition, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. University life is often characterized by irregular schedules, late sleeping patterns, and unhealthy eating behaviors that may increase the risk of nighttime eating. This investigation looked at the relationship between nighttime eating habits and body composition among undergraduate female students at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included 200 female students recruited using convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to assess nighttime eating behaviors, dietary intake patterns, and demographic characteristics. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while dietary intake was evaluated using a 24-hour dietary recall to calculate total energy intake and the percentage of energy consumed during nighttime hours. Among the 200 participants, 59% had a normal BMI, 54% had low skeletal muscle percentage, and 53% had high or very high body fat. Overall, 65.0% (n = 130) of participants consumed ≥25% of their total daily energy intake during nighttime hours, whereas 35.0% (n = 70) consumed <25%. In binary logistic regression analysis conducted in the full study sample (N = 200), higher BMI (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12–1.54; p = 0.001), body fat percentage (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07–1.29; p = 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06–1.84; p = 0.016), and age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01–1.18; p = 0.022) were associated with greater odds of consuming ≥25% of total daily energy intake during nighttime hours. Conversely, reduced odds of this midnight eating practice were linked to increased skeletal muscle proportion (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70–0.91; p = 0.001). These results show that nighttime eating behaviors were common among female university students and were associated with body composition indicators. The results highlight the potential importance of promoting healthy meal timing and circadian-aligned eating patterns within university health and nutrition programs. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and incorporate additional lifestyle factors, including sleep quality and physical activity, to better understand the relationship between nighttime eating behaviors and body composition. https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume14number3/the-relationship-between-night-eating-habits-and-body-composition-among-female-college-students-in-medinah/ Body composition Body mass index Body fat percentage Muscle mass Night eating habit