title: Effects of increased meal frequency on fat oxidation and perceived hunger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Consuming smaller, more frequent meals is often advocated as a means of controlling body weight, but studies demonstrating a mechanistic effect of this practice on factors associated with body weight regulation are lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of consuming three (3M) vs. six meals (6M) per day on 24-h fat oxidation and subjective ratings of hunger.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lean (body mass index <25 kg/m(2) ) subjects (7M, 8F) were studied in a whole-room calorimeter on two occasions in a randomized cross-over design. Subjects were provided isoenergetic, energy balanced diets with a 1- to 2-week washout between conditions. Hunger, fullness, and "desire to eat" ratings were assessed throughout the day using visual analog scales and quantified as area under the curve (AUC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences (P < 0.05) in 24-h energy expenditure (8.7 ± 0.3 vs. 8.6 ± 0.3 mj d(-1) ), 24-h respiratory quotient (0.85 ± 0.01 vs. 0.85 ± 0.01), or 24-h fat oxidation (82 ± 6 vs. 80 ± 7 g day(-1) ) between 3M and 6M, respectively. There was no difference in fullness 24-h AUC, but hunger AUC (41850 ± 2255 vs. 36612 ± 2556 mm.24 h, P = 0.03) and "desire to eat" AUC (47061 ± 1791 vs. 41170 ± 2574 mm.24 h, P = 0.03) were greater during 6M than 3M.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that increasing meal frequency from three to six per day has no significant effect on 24-h fat oxidation, but may increase hunger and the desire to eat.
authors: Center for Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Ohkawara
authors: Marc-Andre
authors: MA
authors: Cornier
authors: Wendy M
authors: WM
authors: Kohrt
authors: Edward L
authors: EL
authors: Melanson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002151:Calorimetry / Q000379:methods; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010465:Perception; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins
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