Meal Timing Linked to Body Weight

Meal timing may aid weight management, according to research published in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers compared meal timing and frequency to changes in BMI for 50,000 participants as part of the Adventist Health Study 2. Those who ate breakfast as the largest meal of the day, did not snack, and fasted longer overnight had the lowest increase in BMI when compared to those who consumed more than three daily meals with snacking in between. Previous evidence suggests breakfast consumption may help increase satiety, reduce total energy intake, and improve overall dietary quality. The authors recommend eating breakfast and spacing meals five to six hours apart for optimal weight management. Lead author Hana Kahleova, M.D., Ph.D., is currently the director of clinical r​esearch at the Physicians Committee.