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Meta-Analysis
. 2016 Jun 17;13(6):603.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph13060603.

Increased Eating Frequency Is Associated with Lower Obesity Risk, But Higher Energy Intake in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Yue-Qiao Wang  1 , Yun-Quan Zhang  2 , Fei Zhang  3 , Yi-Wen Zhang  4 , Rui Li  5 , Guo-Xun Chen  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Increased Eating Frequency Is Associated with Lower Obesity Risk, But Higher Energy Intake in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Yue-Qiao Wang et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Body weight is regulated by energy intake which occurs several times a day in humans. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated whether eating frequency (EF) is associated with obesity risk and energy intake in adults without any dietary restriction. Experimental and observational studies published before July 2015 were selected through English-language literature searches in several databases. These studies reported the association between EF and obesity risk (odd ratios, ORs) in adults who were not in dietary restriction. R software was used to perform statistical analyses. Ten cross-sectional studies, consisting of 65,742 participants, were included in this analysis. ORs were considered as effect size for the analysis about the effect of EF on obesity risk. Results showed that the increase of EF was associated with 0.83 time lower odds of obesity (i.e., OR = 0.83, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.70-0.99, p = 0.040). Analysis about the effect of EF on differences in participants' energy intake revealed that increased EF was associated with higher energy intake (β = 125.36, 95% CI 21.76-228.97, p = 0.017). We conclude that increased EF may lead to lower obesity risk but higher energy intake. Clinical trials are warranted to confirm these results and to assess the clinical practice applicability.

Keywords: eating frequency; energy intake; meta-analysis; obesity risk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of literature search. Results from the literature search and study-selection procedure are summarized.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of EF on obesity risk in adults. Forest plot of studies that evaluated the effect of EF on obesity risk in adults (squares and diamonds represent effect size; extended lines show 95% CIs). Increased EF, as compared with the reference category, was inversely associated with obesity risk. EF, eating frequency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Funnel plot of EF and obesity risk. Funnel plot for 9 studies indicated potential presence of publication bias, while the Egger test revealed no publication bias (p = 0.389). EF, eating frequency.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect of EF on EI in adults. Forest plot of studies that evaluated the effect of EF on EI in adults (squares and diamonds represent effect size; extended lines show SEs). Increased EF, as compared with the reference category, was positively associated with EI. EF, eating frequency; EI, energy intake.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Funnel plot of EF and EI. Funnel plot for 9 studies indicated potential presence of publication bias, while the Egger test revealed no publication bias (p = 0.681). EF, eating frequency; EI, energy intake.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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