Periodicity of eating: Implications for human food consumption

The literature review summarizes pertinent research on the effects of meal frequency. Metabolic adaptation including morphological and physiological changes in laboratory animals is reported. Earliest research supported the hypothesis that meal frequency did influence metabolic functions and therapy affected weight gain or loss. More recent research in laboratory animals indicates that erroneous conclusions may have been drawn by misinterpretation of research results, and that meal frequency does not influence changes in body fat nor weight. Implications of animal research to man is reported and the contemporary meal habit that includes snacking is discussed.