To snack or not to snack - what should we advise for weight management?

Abstract

Abstract Aims: Although our current weight management guidelines suggest eating regularly, speculation about whether snacking assists with managing weight occurs widely among the media, weight loss clients and health professionals. We aim to examine whether there is adequate scientific evidence available to support the manipulation of eating frequently for improving body weight, diabetes and cardiovascular risk markers, and theories that link eating frequently with weight management. Methods: Relevant papers from nutrition and dietetics journals and other sources were used to assess the association between eating frequency and weight and health. Results: Longer-term evidence suggests eating frequency does not affect weight, glucose, insulin control, hunger or energy expenditure in intentional weight losers and maintainers. There is consistent short-term evidence of an inverse association between blood lipid levels and eating frequency during weight maintenance. Many of the common theories that suggest manipulating eating frequency for weight management are not supported by the literature. Sustaining a change to eating frequency also may be challenging over the longer term. Conclusions: Overall current evidence does not suggest that manipulating eating frequency greatly benefits weight and health. Health professionals may not need to manipulate eating frequency for weight management. Key words: body weight, feeding behavior, obesity.