title: Meal size and frequency: effect on the thermic effect of food.
abstract: The effects of meal size and frequency on thermic effect of food (TEF) were examined in seven healthy normal-weight young women. Each volunteer consumed in random order one of two identical meals [3138 kJ (750 kcal), 54.5% carbohydrate, 14.0% protein, 31.5% fat]. One meal was taken over 10 min [large meal (LM)] whereas the other was taken in six equal portions of 523 kJ (125 kcal) at 30-min intervals over a 3-h period [small meals (SM)]. Metabolic rate was measured for 1 h before and every 30 min after the meal started for 5 h. When expressed as either kJ/min (kcal/min) or kJ/5h (kcal/5h), TEF was significantly higher in the LM day than in the SM day (P less than 0.05). We conclude that the temporal pattern in which a mixed caloric load is eaten affects the thermogenic response and may be an important determinant of energy balance after a meal.
authors.affiliation: Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pi-Sunyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors