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Health Study Finds Obese People Eat Fewer Meals

The obesity epidemic in the United States is well documented. That being said, studies still come up with what many view as odd results. A new example of this has to do with the relationship between obesity and the number of meals consumed a day. One might think that obese people eat more often, but a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association revealed just the opposite result.

The study was conducted by the University of Scranton and looked at the eating habits of obese and thin people as well as those who had been obese and had lost a lot of weight. The study found that the obese people ate fewer meals a day, but took in excessive amounts of calories during those meals. The thinner people and people who had lost a lot of weight tended to eat three meals and two snacks a day, but consumed fewer overall calories. They also tended to reduce their net caloric intake by exercising frequently to burn off calories whereas the obese study group did not.

What does this study tell us? It seems to suggest that exercise and eating regularly is the key to maintaining a healthy weight. That shouldn't be a shocker!