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

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of two Eating Frequency prescriptions, meal (energy intake occurring during three meals per day) and grazing (energy intake occurring every two to three hours per day), on consumption during an ad libitum meal consumed at the end of the day, overall daily energy intake, and ratio of energy intake to energy expenditure. It is hypothesized that the grazing condition will produce lower consumption during an evening ad libitum meal, lower daily energy intake, and a lower ratio of energy intake to energy expenditure than the meal condition.

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.

Is it safe to eat more frequently throughout the day?

Eating more frequently, like grazing or having small, frequent meals, is generally considered safe for most people. However, it may lead to weight gain, poor nutrition quality, and other issues if not done carefully. It's important to focus on healthy meal choices and consider individual health needs. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment of grazing differ from three meals a day for eating habits?

Grazing involves eating small amounts of food frequently throughout the day, which is different from the traditional three meals a day approach. This eating pattern is being studied for its effects on weight loss and eating disorders, as it may impact hunger, energy intake, and weight management differently than structured meal times. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment EF condition in the Grazing vs Three Meals a Day for Eating Habits trial?

The research suggests that grazing, or eating small amounts of food frequently, is common in people with obesity and eating disorders, but it is often linked to negative outcomes like poorer weight loss and lower mood. However, a systematic review found that increased eating frequency (EF) did not significantly affect food intake or weight in most studies, indicating mixed evidence on its effectiveness. ^{4 6 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. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Grazing in adults with obesity and eating disorders: A systematic review of associated clinical features and meta-analysis of prevalence. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The short inventory of grazing (SIG): development and validation of a new brief measure of a common eating behaviour with a compulsive dimension. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Grazing behaviour and associations with obesity, eating disorders, and health-related quality of life in the Australian population. [2020]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eating Frequency, Food Intake, and Weight: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Experimental Studies. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relating goal-directed behaviour to grazing in persons with obesity with and without eating disorder features. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meal frequency and timing in health and disease. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding the link between frequency of eating and cardiometabolic health outcomes in Americans who "snack". [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of grazing on daily caloric intake and dietary quality. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recommending Small, Frequent Meals in the Clinical Care of Adults: A Review of the Evidence and Important Considerations. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of manipulating eating frequency during a behavioral weight loss intervention: a pilot randomized controlled trial. [2012]