Effect Of Meal Frequency On Weight Loss And Body Composition Of Obese And Overweight Women

Effect Of Meal Frequency On Weight Loss And Body Composition Of Obese And Overweight Women Having Medical Nutrition Therapy

Studies showing the relationship between meal frequency, weight loss and anthropometric measurements are contradictory. This study is planned and conducted to observe the effects of meal frequency (3 meals+3 snacks vs 3 meals) on weight loss, anthropometric measurements and body composition with 3-month energy restricted Medical Nutrition Therapy program in 19-64 years old women with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Overweight and Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: 3 meals+3 snacks; Behavioral: 3 meals

Detailed Description

The study was conducted with 40 female volunteers between the ages of 19-64 years, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥27. Energy restricted individualized weight loss programs were applied with different meal frequencies (3 meals+3 snacks/day vs 3 meals/day) in a 3 month follow up period. 20 participants were randomized in 3 meals+3 snacks and 20 participants were randomized in 3 meals group. Food consumption was questioned, and anthropometric measurements and body composition were measured before the study and repeated each week till the end of the study. Three day food records (2 week days and 1 weekend day) taken before the intervention were evaluated and five hundred calorie was subtracted from the average energy calculated form the food records to determine the energy of the weight loss plans . Breakfast, lunch and dinner are planned as main meals and the beverages and/or food eaten between main meals were planned as snacks (50-200 kcal). For both of the groups dietary weight loss program was planned by the same dietitian. Macronutrient composition of the weight loss plan was designed according to the recommendations of the Turkish Dietary Guidelines as 45-60 % carbohydrate, 10-20 % protein and 20-35 % fat for both of the groups.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Cyprus
  • Famagusta, Cyprus, 99450
    • Eastern Mediterranean University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years to 64 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 19-64 years old Women,
• Healthy subjects with no chronic diseases,
• Subjects who were not taking any drug or dietary supplements,
• Subjects who have not made any changes in their physical activity or eating habits for weight loss in the last 6 months,
• Subjects with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure to meet the criteria for inclusion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 3 Meals+3 Snacks; This group was followed up for 3 months with an energy restricted weight loss plan composed of 3 main meals and 3 snacks	Behavioral: 3 meals+3 snacks; All of the 20 subjects consumed an energy restricted weight loos plan with 3 main meals and 3 snacks for 3 months
Experimental: 3 Meals; This group was followed up for 3 months with an energy restricted weight loss plan composed of 3 main meals	Behavioral: 3 meals; All of the 20 subjects consumed an energy restricted weight loos plan with 3 main meals for 3 months

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in BMI (kg/m2)	Both of the groups had a significant change in BMI, but there was no difference among the groups	3 months
Change in Waist circumference (cm)	Both of the groups had a significant change in waist circumference, but there was no difference among the groups	3 months
Change in total body fat (kg)	Both of the groups had a significant change in total body fat however the rate of change in total body fat was significantly higher in 3 meals+3snacks group	3 months
Change in body fat percentage (%)	Both of the groups had a significant change in body fat percentage however the rate of change in body fat percentage was significantly higher in 3 meals+3snacks group	3 months
Change in fat free mass percentage (%)	Both of the groups had a significant change in fat free mass percentage, however the rate of change was significantly higher in 3 meals+3 snacks group	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Eastern Mediterranean University
• Investigators: Study Director: Müjgan Öztürk, PhD, Eastern Mediterranean University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 5, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 17, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 17, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: body composition; BMI; waist circumference; Meal Frequency
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Weight Loss; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2016/21-03

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No