Night Eating Among Latinos With Diabetes: Exploring Associations With Heart Rate Variability, Eating Patterns, and Sleep

OBJECTIVES. We explored associations between night eating and health outcomes in Latinos with type 2 diabetes. METHODS. Participants (n=85) completed surveys, were measured for anthropometrics, provided blood samples and wore Holter monitors for 24 hours to assess heart rate variability. RESULTS. Participant mean age was 60.0 years, HbA1c was 8.7%, most preferred Spanish (92%) and had less than a high school education (76%). Compared to their counterparts who denied night eating, night eaters had lower heart rate variability in the low (Cohen’s d=−0.55, p=.040) and very-low frequency bands (d=−0.54, p=.049), and reported more emotional eating (d=0.52, p=.036), and poorer sleep quality (Cohen’s h=0.64). They did not differ on beverage intake or depressive symptoms. In regression that included depressive symptoms, associations between night eating and outcomes became non-significant. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS. Night eaters demonstrated worse health outcomes. If results are replicated, nutrition education for this population might focus on night eating.