We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Metabolism!

ferd_ttp5
ferd_ttp5 Posts: 246 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it true that if you dont eat every 3-4 hours your metabolism slows down? I read it in many articles and blogs about weight loss and im curious if is it true. Thanks

Replies

  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    No. Not true.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    nope. Do whatever eating schedule works for you.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.

  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    ferd_ttp5 wrote: »
    Is it true that if you dont eat every 3-4 hours your metabolism slows down? I read it in many articles and blogs about weight loss and im curious if is it true. Thanks

    NO.
  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    seska422 wrote: »
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.

    NO NO NO. Frequency of meals does not impact metabolism in the slightest.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    seska422 wrote: »
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.
    Lies. My big pepperoni pizza did not boost my metabolism. I gained two pounds. :angry:

    FYI, sodium.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    edited March 2017
    seska422 wrote: »
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.

    It was a pretty good article, though really the summary of The bottom line is that there are many variables involved, including psychological ones, and clinical evidence shows that both more or fewer meals per day are effective for weight loss, and have no inherent drawbacks or advantages in terms of metabolic rate and appetite control. is a little less misleading than talking about the boost in general.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited March 2017
    seska422 wrote: »
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.

    NO NO NO. Frequency of meals does not impact metabolism in the slightest.

    I agree. That's what I said and that's what the article said. There's no advantage to small frequent meals over larger less frequent meals. Taking the same overall calories for the day, it doesn't matter if you eat one large meal in 24 hours or 17 small meals in 24 hours, you'll have the same overall metabolic calorie usage (boost) from those meals so there's no metabolic advantage to eating small frequent meals. One big meal a day or a bunch of little little meals add up to the same overall metabolic result so meal timing and size are up to individual preferences.

    From the article:
    Well, in an extensive review of literature, scientists at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research looked at scores of studies comparing the thermic effect of food in a wide variety of eating patterns, ranging from 1-17 meals per day.In terms of 24-hour energy expenditure, they found no difference between nibbling and gorging. Small meals caused small, short metabolic boosts, and large meals caused larger, longer boosts, and by the end of each day, they balanced out in terms of total calories burned.

    We can also look to a weight loss study conducted by the University of Ontario, which split into two dietary groups: 3 meals per day and 3 meals plus 3 snacks per day, with both in a caloric restriction for weight loss. After 8 weeks, 16 participants completed the study and researchers found no significant difference in average weight loss, fat loss, and muscle loss.

    So, while increasing meal frequency can make dieting more enjoyable for some, it doesn’t help us burn more energy and thus lose more fat.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    ferd_ttp5 wrote: »
    Is it true that if you dont eat every 3-4 hours your metabolism slows down? I read it in many articles and blogs about weight loss and im curious if is it true. Thanks

    Yes, but it probably doesn't mean what you think it means. A lot of people think of metabolism in terms of how many calories they burn. Metabolism is actually the whole process in which food is converted into usable energy. When you eat, there are all kinds of body functions that kick in to break down the food and send energy throughout the body. But these body functions don't work for free. They all require energy. So after you eat your metabolism speeds up. After a few hours all of the easily digested stuff is taken care of. The rest is still providing energy nutrients, but at a slower pace. Your metabolism slows down because there is less to do until you eat again. So, yes, the articles are right that if you eat often you will keep your metabolism going at a higher rate. That doesn't mean you burn more calories.

    But the increase of metabolism from eating is fairly insignificant. The best way to increase your metabolism is through exercise. You can actually judge how fast your metabolism is going based on how out of breath you are. Eating a meal isn't going to cause you to gasp for air. But running up hill might. Which activity do you think increases your metabolism the most?
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,150 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    seska422 wrote: »
    This is a good article with links to published science. Basically, small meals cause small metabolic boosts and big meals cause big metabolic boosts but it all averages out over the course of the day in terms of calories burned so that meal timing doesn't matter.
    Lies. My big pepperoni pizza did not boost my metabolism. I gained two pounds. :angry:

    FYI, sodium.

    Yeah sodium, definitely not the 2# of pepperoni pizza.
    l6yz8jb87gzj.gif
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,138 Member
    Not in the way that many "broscience" people state it does. TEF is a given regardless of how many times you eat in a day.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    Someone didn't tell my body because i lost 80lbs never eating before 1pm
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    edited March 2017
    Personally if I start eating early, I'm hungry all damn day and THAT is no match for any fabled metabolic advantage eating more often may have lol
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    ferd_ttp5 wrote: »
    Is it true that if you dont eat every 3-4 hours your metabolism slows down? I read it in many articles and blogs about weight loss and im curious if is it true. Thanks

    Nope
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Nonsense
This discussion has been closed.