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March 21, 2010

The Claim: Eat Six Small Meals a Day Instead of Three Big Ones

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR

THE FACTS

The notion behind eating smaller, more frequent meals is simple: spreading out one’s daily calories over six meals stimulates the metabolism, keeping it going at a faster pace and thereby burning more calories.

Some studies have found modest health benefits to eating smaller meals, but often the research involved extremes, like comparing the effects of two or three large daily meals with those of a dozen or more snacks. Six meals, according to some weight-loss books and fad diets, is a more realistic approach.

But don’t count on it. As long as total caloric and nutrient intake stays the same, then metabolism, at the end of the day, should stay the same as well. One study that carefully demonstrated this, published in 2009 in The British Journal of Nutrition, involved groups of overweight men and women who were randomly assigned to very strict low-calorie diets and followed for eight weeks. Each subject consumed the same number of calories per day, but one group took in three meals a day and the other six.

Both groups lost significant and equivalent amounts of weight. There was no difference between them in fat loss, appetite control or measurements of hormones that signal hunger and satiety. Other studies have had similar results.

For a more reliable metabolic boost, studies show, try exercise.

THE BOTTOM LINE

There is no solid evidence that six small meals a day instead of three will speed metabolism.

ANAHAD O’CONNOR scitimes@nytimes.com

1.6m Malaysian adults may have diabetes

1.6m Malaysian adults may have diabetes

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 11 — It is estimated that one out of eight Malaysians aged 30 years and above has diabetes, which amounts to over 1.6 million adults, based on the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey 2006.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the prevalence of diabetes also showed a drastic increase of 80 per cent over a period of just 10 years, from 8.3 per cent in 1996 to 14.9 per cent in 2006 for the same age group.

Even more worrying, he said, was that one third of those who had diabetes were undiagnosed and also not aware of their condition.

This was very dangerous because if not detected early they would face serious complications like stroke, amputations, blindness, heart disease and kidney failure, he told reporters after launching the fourth edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, at the Putrajaya Hospital here today.

Dr Mohd Ismail urged those 30 years and above to undergo screening to ensure that they do not have the disease, and if they do, to start on the medication to avoid worse complications.

He also urged those bodies involved in diabetes such as the National Diabetes Institute (Nadi), Malaysian Diabetes Association (PDM) and Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) to work together to create awareness among the people about the disease.

on the guidelines, he said they were developed to provide a clear and concise approach to all health care providers on the current practice in the management of such type of diabetes. – Bernama