The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials
Abstract Background Eating frequency may affect body weight and cardiometabolic health. Intervention trials and observational studies have both indicated that high- and low-frequency eating can be associated with better health outcomes. There are currently no guidelines to inform how to advise healt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01532-z |
| _version_ | 1797556410520698880 |
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| author | Paul Blazey Alireza Habibi Nejat Hassen Daniel Friedman Karim M. Khan Clare L. Ardern |
| author_facet | Paul Blazey Alireza Habibi Nejat Hassen Daniel Friedman Karim M. Khan Clare L. Ardern |
| author_sort | Paul Blazey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Eating frequency may affect body weight and cardiometabolic health. Intervention trials and observational studies have both indicated that high- and low-frequency eating can be associated with better health outcomes. There are currently no guidelines to inform how to advise healthy adults about how frequently to consume food or beverages. Aim To establish whether restricted- (≤ three meals per day) frequency had a superior effect on markers of cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change) compared to unrestricted-eating (≥ four meals per day) frequency in adults. Methods We searched Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CAB Direct and Web of Science Core Collection electronic databases from inception to 7 June 2022 for clinical trials (randomised parallel or cross-over trials) reporting on the effect of high or low-frequency eating on cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change). Trial interventions had to last for at least two weeks, and had to have been conducted in human adults. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all outcomes. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results Seventeen reports covering 16 trials were included in the systematic review. Data from five trials were excluded from meta-analysis due to insufficient reporting. 15 of 16 trials were at high risk of bias. There was very low certainty evidence of no difference between high- and low-frequency eating for weight-change (MD: -0.62 kg, CI95: -2.76 to 1.52 kg, p = 0.57). Conclusions There was no discernible advantage to eating in a high- or low-frequency dietary pattern for cardiometabolic health. We cannot advocate for either restricted- or unrestricted eating frequency to change markers of cardiometabolic health in healthy young to middle-aged adults. Protocol registration CRD42019137938. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:01:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f55ca258814f487d813c57cb3e10eaf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:01:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-f55ca258814f487d813c57cb3e10eaf42023-11-20T10:57:25ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682023-11-0120112110.1186/s12966-023-01532-zThe effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trialsPaul Blazey0Alireza Habibi1Nejat Hassen2Daniel Friedman3Karim M. Khan4Clare L. Ardern5Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaFaculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaFaculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaAIS Medicine, Australian Institute of SportDepartment of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaCentre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research InstituteAbstract Background Eating frequency may affect body weight and cardiometabolic health. Intervention trials and observational studies have both indicated that high- and low-frequency eating can be associated with better health outcomes. There are currently no guidelines to inform how to advise healthy adults about how frequently to consume food or beverages. Aim To establish whether restricted- (≤ three meals per day) frequency had a superior effect on markers of cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change) compared to unrestricted-eating (≥ four meals per day) frequency in adults. Methods We searched Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CAB Direct and Web of Science Core Collection electronic databases from inception to 7 June 2022 for clinical trials (randomised parallel or cross-over trials) reporting on the effect of high or low-frequency eating on cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change). Trial interventions had to last for at least two weeks, and had to have been conducted in human adults. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all outcomes. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results Seventeen reports covering 16 trials were included in the systematic review. Data from five trials were excluded from meta-analysis due to insufficient reporting. 15 of 16 trials were at high risk of bias. There was very low certainty evidence of no difference between high- and low-frequency eating for weight-change (MD: -0.62 kg, CI95: -2.76 to 1.52 kg, p = 0.57). Conclusions There was no discernible advantage to eating in a high- or low-frequency dietary pattern for cardiometabolic health. We cannot advocate for either restricted- or unrestricted eating frequency to change markers of cardiometabolic health in healthy young to middle-aged adults. Protocol registration CRD42019137938.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01532-zEating frequencyFeeding behaviorDietCardiometabolic healthWeight changeDietary pattern |
| spellingShingle | Paul Blazey Alireza Habibi Nejat Hassen Daniel Friedman Karim M. Khan Clare L. Ardern The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Eating frequency Feeding behavior Diet Cardiometabolic health Weight change Dietary pattern |
| title | The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials |
| title_full | The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials |
| title_fullStr | The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials |
| title_short | The effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials |
| title_sort | effects of eating frequency on changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults a systematic review with meta analysis of randomized trials |
| topic | Eating frequency Feeding behavior Diet Cardiometabolic health Weight change Dietary pattern |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01532-z |
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