Impact of Meal Frequency on Anthropometric Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Schwingshackl L, Nitschke K, Zähringer J, Bischoff K, Lohner S, Torbahn G, Schlesinger S, Schmucker C, Meerpohl J (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) American Society for Nutrition

DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmaa056

Abstract

The relation between meal frequency and measures of obesity is inconclusive. Therefore, this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) set out to compare the isocaloric effects of different meal frequencies on anthropometric outcomes and energy intake (EI). A systematic literature search was conducted in 3 electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science; search date, 11 March 2019). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included with ≥2 wk intervention duration comparing any 2 of the eligible isocaloric meal frequencies (i.e., 1 to ≥8 meals/d). Random-effects NMA was performed for 4 outcomes [body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), and EI], and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was estimated using a frequentist approach (P-score: value is between 0 and 1). Twenty-two RCTs with 647 participants were included. Our results suggest that 2 meals/d probably slightly reduces BW compared with 3 meals/d [mean difference (MD): −1.02 kg; 95% CI: −1.70, −0.35 kg) or 6 meals/d (MD: −1.29 kg; 95% CI: −1.74, −0.84 kg; moderate certainty of evidence). We are uncertain whether 1 or 2 meals/d reduces BW compared with ≥8 meals/d (MD1 meal/d vs. ≥8 meals/d: −2.25 kg; 95% CI: −5.13, 0.63 kg; MD2 meals/d vs. ≥8 meals/d: −1.32 kg; 95% CI: −2.19, −0.45 kg) and whether 1 meal/d probably reduces FM compared with 3 meals/d (MD: −1.84 kg; 95% CI: −3.72, 0.05 kg; very low certainty of evidence). Two meals per day compared with 6 meals/d probably reduce WC (MD: −3.77 cm; 95% CI: −4.68, −2.86 cm; moderate certainty of evidence). 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 WC (P-score: 0.96). EI was not affected by meal frequency. In conclusion, our findings indicate that there is little robust evidence that reducing meal frequency is beneficial.

Authors with CRIS profile

Gabriel Torbahn Professur für Klinische Ernährung im Alter

Involved external institutions

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Freiburg DE Germany (DE) University of Pécs / Pécsi Tudományegyetem HU Hungary (HU)

How to cite

APA:

Schwingshackl, L., Nitschke, K., Zähringer, J., Bischoff, K., Lohner, S., Torbahn, G.,... Meerpohl, J. (2020). Impact of Meal Frequency on Anthropometric Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa056

MLA:

Schwingshackl, Lukas, et al. "Impact of Meal Frequency on Anthropometric Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials." Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2020).

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