Grazing vs Three Meals a Day for Eating Habits

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Must not be taking: Appetite suppressants

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Bariatric surgery, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 1 year

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different eating patterns—either three meals a day or grazing every two to three hours—affect daily food intake. Researchers believe that more frequent eating, such as grazing, might reduce consumption at dinner and throughout the day. The goal is to determine which eating style better manages energy intake. This trial may suit adults who have never been overweight, are active, and have not experienced recent eating restrictions or significant weight changes. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding eating patterns and their impact on energy management.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are currently taking medication that affects appetite or food intake, you cannot participate in this trial.

What prior data suggests that these eating frequency prescriptions are safe?

Research shows that meal frequency can impact weight and health. Some studies suggest that eating fewer meals each day might aid in weight control. For instance, eating just one meal a day has proven effective for weight loss. However, eating more frequently might not always be beneficial.

In terms of safety, changing meal frequency is generally well-tolerated. No major reports of harmful side effects have emerged from altering meal frequency. Therefore, participating in this kind of study is unlikely to pose serious health risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Grazing vs Three Meals a Day approach to eating habits because it challenges traditional meal timing by focusing on a more flexible eating pattern. Unlike the standard three meals a day, this method allows individuals to eat smaller amounts more frequently, which could lead to better energy levels and metabolism. This approach may improve satiety and reduce overall calorie intake without the restrictions typically associated with dieting. If successful, it could offer a new way to manage weight and improve overall health without the need for strict meal schedules or complex dietary guidelines.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for eating habits?

This trial will compare the effects of grazing (eating more frequently) with having three meals a day. Research has shown that eating more often doesn't necessarily lead to eating less or feeling less hungry. Some studies have found no significant difference in food intake whether people have three meals a day or snack throughout the day. For example, one study showed that eating more frequently didn't reduce hunger. Another review found that the number of meals didn't affect food intake or weight. Overall, evidence suggests that simply eating more often might not help reduce food intake or manage weight. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 18-35 with a healthy body weight (BMI of 18.5-24.9), who have not been overweight, eat without restrictions according to the TFEQ, and exercise moderately for at least 150 minutes weekly.

Inclusion Criteria

Regularly participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intense physical activity per week over the previous 4 weeks

No history of overweight or obesity

Unrestrained eater (<12 on Three Factor Eating Questionnaire [TFEQ])

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with diabetes.

I am on medication that changes my appetite or how much I eat.

I have a condition that affects my eating or I am on a special diet.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants follow either a meal or grazing eating frequency condition to assess energy intake and expenditure

1 year

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• EF condition

Trial Overview

The study is testing two eating patterns: 'meal' where participants eat three times a day, and 'grazing' where they eat every few hours. The focus is on how these patterns affect evening meal intake, daily calorie consumption, and energy balance.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: EF condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

93

Recruited

19,500+

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4683169/

Eating Frequency, Food Intake, and Weight: A Systematic ...

This systematic review assessed the effect of greater eating frequency (EF) on intake and anthropometrics in human and animal experimental studies.

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11377242/

No Effect of High Eating Frequency Compared with Low ...

Further, our dietary intervention compared EF of 3 meals per day (low EF) compared with 6 meals per day (high EF), which we felt was a moderate and achievable ...

3.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622089696

Higher Eating Frequency Does Not Decrease Appetite in ...

Conclusion: The results from this study in 12 healthy adults do not support the popularized notion that small, frequent meals help to decrease overall appetite.

4.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2015.00038/full

Eating Frequency, Food Intake, and Weight: A Systematic ...

For the 5 studies, the number of eating occasions in the EF manipulations varied greatly, ranging from 1 to 12 eating occasions per day, intervention length ...

5.

nesr.usda.gov

nesr.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Frequency-meals-snacks_energy-intake-2025DGACSystematicReview.pdf

Frequency of Meals and/or Snacking and Energy Intake

Study objective: To evaluate the effects of long-term. 6 vs 3 meal eucaloric eating patterns on indices of glycemic control and satiety in subjects with obesity.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9945472/

Impact of Early Time-Restricted Eating on Diet Quality ...

Time-restricted eating (TRE) can reduce body weight, but it is unclear how it influences dietary patterns and behavior. We therefore assessed the effects of ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7500660/

Family meal frequency and its association with food ...

Adolescents reporting 5–7 family dinners per week had a significantly higher daily servings of fruit consumption than adolescents reporting ...

8.

mdpi.com

mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/5/1687

Eating Speed, Eating Frequency, and Their Relationships ...

Results suggest that children and adults with a faster eating speed/rate may be associated with a higher risk of developing adiposity, MetS or its components.

9.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/oby.23642

Impact of early time‐restricted eating on diet quality, meal ...

Objective Time-restricted eating (TRE) can reduce body weight, but it is unclear how it influences dietary patterns and behavior.

10.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/341576498_Impact_of_Meal_Frequency_on_Anthropometric_Outcomes_A_Systematic_Review_and_Network_Meta-Analysis_of_Randomized_Controlled_Trials

Impact of Meal Frequency on Anthropometric Outcomes

One meal per day was ranked as the best frequency for reducing BW (P-score: 0.81), followed by 2 meals/d (P-score: 0.74), whereas 2 meals/d performed best for ...