Many people believe that it’s better to eat six small meals a day to lose weight, according to dailymail.co.uk. But according to a study conducted by researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, eating just three high-protein meals a day is more beneficial as a weight loss strategy.
The journal Obesity reported the study asked 27 overweight and obese men to consume 750 fewer calories a day for a 12-week period. They were randomly assigned a high-protein or a normal-protein diet. In week seven of the diet, the men were assigned three meals a day spaced five hours apart, or six meals a day spaced two hours apart, for three days in a row. The participants then switched to the other eating pattern for another three days.
The study concluded that men who consumed a low-calorie, high-protein meal three times per day felt fuller throughout the day, didn’t want to eat as much late at night, and were less preoccupied with thoughts of food.
This contradicts popular wisdom that eating small meals throughout the day is the best system for weight loss.