Due to lifestyle changes, there is an increasing number of people who choose to eat just once a day, but is this good for our health? New research suggests that our body copes better with the traditional three meals a day when compared with the same amount eaten in one meal.

A team of US scientists compared the health effects of two different eating patterns: three meals a day versus one meal a day. Energy (calorie) content of both diets was similar. Healthy, normal weight adults followed each eating pattern for 8 weeks. During this time, regular measurements were taken of weight, body fat, blood cholesterol and hunger.

The results showed that eating one meal a day reduced body fat slightly, but increased blood pressure and LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol. Perception of hunger was greater on the one meal a day regime. There were no differences in weight. It would seem that eating three meals a day is healthier overall than eating once a day.

For more information, see
Stote KS et al (2007). A controlled trial of reduced meal frequency without caloric restriction in healthy, normal-weight, middle-aged adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol 85, pg 981-988.

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