A compliation on meal frequency

cbrrabbit25

Here is a recent review article on the effects of meal frequency on appetite control and energy intake:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21123467

The full text is available for free.

Note that this article addresses a related, but different topic than presented by the OP.

The authors conclude that the effects of increased feeding frequency on appetite control are still unclear, and additional research is needed.

However, there are at least two studies that provide reasonable support for the notion that reduction in meal frequency below 3/day causes an increase in appetite. This seems to depend on which meal is omitted.

Cheers,

Jeff

I think that i do better eating more frequently because if i dont, then i am starving by the time a "lunch" or "dinner" time comes around. Perhaps that is why it works better for me. I also am very active, though and I usually am sluggish at the gym if i dont have a snack beforehand so it helps in that way also.

cbrrabbit25

I'm not much of a science person, but I do know that my mood and energy stay more balanced when I eat small frequent meals. I eat six times a day and that works for me. If I was to cram in all of my calories in 2 to 3 meals, I would feel overstuffed and sluggish and then hungry and cranky before time to eat again. If that works for someone else though I don't see anything wrong with it.

agreed! its the same for me also!

rileysowner

The point of the OP is that you need to do what works for you realizing other than for those who have certain metabolic disease (diabetes and the like) meal frequency has no effect. Eat as many or as few meals as you are comfortable with.

allie316

have just found this post, and although im very new to trying to be healthy, not just losing a bucket load of weight, i find it quite interesting and a little bit relieving that i can work at finding the right way for me, without having to follow strict rules, that ultimately dont seem to keep me full, happy or energised.

I will be taking the time to go throught the links and sites later, but i just wanted to say thank you for the insight, and for helping a little fatty like me finally find peace that 'dieting' to someone elses standards is what has hindered me, as opposed to helping me find what will actually work for me.

tracypk

bump

D_Journey

Awesome read. Bump.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

thank you for sharing this...now I can finally prove to my husband that only eating 3 meals with a snack or two is OK. he is always telling I would lose weight faster if I ate 6 small meals a day and I find that pretty hard to accomplish!

If you are comparing equal calorie intakes in both scenarios then your husband is wrong. I would suggest a sex bet before proving.

I think all arguments should start this way-- that way no matter who loses, everybody wins

Vini9

Bump!