Examining the evidence between screen time and night eating behaviour with dietary intake related to metabolic syndrome: A narrative review

•Night eating behaviour is associated with higher intake of energy, fat and soft drinks due to alter hormone regulation, insulin sensitivity and inhibitory control.•Longer time spent on electronic devices increased the exposure to unhealthy food and mindless eating.•Digital content with violent video games or without food cues tend to increase the consumption of energy-dense food from sweet food and saturated fat.•Night eaters and longer time spent on electronic devices were associated with higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Screen time (ST) on digital devices has increased in recent decades due to digital development. Furthermore, constant engagement with digital devices alters sleep patterns, leading to nocturnal eating behaviour among users. These phenomena are therefore of great concern, as digital device addiction and night eating are associated with unhealthy food intake, increasing the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risks. The purpose of this review was to examine the evidence of the influence of ST and night eating behaviour (NEB) on dietary intake and its association with MetS based on previous literature. Prolonged ST and NEB have an association with excessive intake of energy from overconsumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods. However, the relationship between digital content and its influence on food intake is inconsistent. A higher MetS risk was found in individuals with longer ST due to a sedentary lifestyle, while positive energy balance and a shift in circadian rhythm contributed to night eaters. ST and NEB presented with a significant influence on food intake in adults. Additionally, unhealthy food intake due to excessive consumption of empty-calorie foods such as sweet and fatty foods due to addiction to electronic devices and eating at night has a detrimental effect on metabolic function. Therefore, improving food intake by reducing ST and night binges is essential to reduce the risk of MetS.