If you want to lose weight, you might have more success eating big meals instead of numerous snacks. Robert Rickman has more on his health news segment on Saturday mornings...
VERBATIM:
If you're trying to lose weight it might be time to cut down on the amount of meals you have a day - but not necessarily the amount of food you eat overall.
According to researchers from the Czech Republic, eating a big breakfast and a large lunch is better if you're trying to control weight and blood sugar levels than six small meals a day.
The study, published in the journal Diabetologia, found that frequent eating of high-fat and high-sugar foods increased cholesterol stores in the liver and fat around the waist – but eating larger portions less frequently did not.
One group of 27 ate six small meals for 12 weeks, while the second had a large meal at breakfast and lunchtime. The groups then switched regimens and continued for a further three months. (Comments) Robert Rickman, WGNS news.
The experts took measurements of insulin sensitivity, liver fat content and the function of pancreatic beta cells – which produce insulin.
Body weight fell in both diets – but there was a greater loss for those eating bigger meals twice a day.