Weight Loss & Eating Pattern
Weight loss is greater with consumption
of large morning meals and fat-free mass is preserved with large evening
meals in women on a controlled weight reduction regimen.
The purpose of this study was to determine
whether meal ingestion pattern [large morning meals (AM) vs. large evening
meals (PM)] affects changes in body weight, body composition or energy
utilization during weight loss. Ten women completed a metabolic ward study
of 3-wk weight stabilization followed by 12 wk of weight loss with a moderately
energy restricted diet and regular exercise. The weight loss phase was
divided into two 6-wk periods. During period 1, 70 percent of daily energy
intake was taken as two meals in the AM or in the PM. Subjects crossed
over to the alternate meal time in period 2. Both weight loss and fat-free
mass loss were greater with the AM than the PM meal pattern. Change in
fat mass and loss of body energy were affected by order of meal pattern
ingestion. The PM pattern resulted in greater loss of fat mass in period
1 but not in period 2. Likewise, resting mid-afternoon fat oxidation rate
was higher with the PM pattern in period 1 but not in period 2, corresponding
with the fat mass changes. To conclude, ingestion of larger AM meals resulted
in slightly greater weight loss, but ingestion of larger PM meals resulted
in better maintenance of fat-free mass. Thus, incorporation of larger
PM meals in a weight loss regimen may be important in minimizing the loss
of fat-free mass.
Source: Keim NL, Van Loan MD, Horn WF,
Barbieri TF, Mayclin PL. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural
Research Service, Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Presidio of
San Francisco, CA 94129, USA. 1997
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