Effect Of Meal Frequency On Weight Loss And Body Composition Of Obese And Overweight Women Having Medical Nutrition Therapy

The study was conducted with 40 female volunteers between the ages of 19-64 years, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥27. Energy restricted individualized weight loss programs were applied with different meal frequencies (3 meals+3 snacks/day vs 3 meals/day) in a 3 month follow up period. 20 participants were randomized in 3 meals+3 snacks and 20 participants were randomized in 3 meals group. Food consumption was questioned, and anthropometric measurements and body composition were measured before the study and repeated each week till the end of the study. Three day food records (2 week days and 1 weekend day) taken before the intervention were evaluated and five hundred calorie was subtracted from the average energy calculated form the food records to determine the energy of the weight loss plans . Breakfast, lunch and dinner are planned as main meals and the beverages and/or food eaten between main meals were planned as snacks (50-200 kcal). For both of the groups dietary weight loss program was planned by the same dietitian. Macronutrient composition of the weight loss plan was designed according to the recommendations of the Turkish Dietary Guidelines as 45-60 % carbohydrate, 10-20 % protein and 20-35 % fat for both of the groups.