Health UK CU – Findings of a new study have dismissed a widely distributed belief that calorie consumption at different times, impacts metabolism.
Research led by Professor Alexandra Johnstone from the University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute joined hands with Professor Jonathan Johnston from the University of Surrey, saw that energy is similarly utilized, irrespective of the time of the day calories are consumed.
The research was funded by the Medical Research Council, where the results dismiss prior studies indicating that ‘evening eaters’ are more likely to gain weight and are less capable of sheding it.
Analysis of the UKs present food habits demonstrated that many people consume most of their calories during the evening, however this varies.
The research was the 1st of its kind in the UK to evaluate the impact of breakfast calories versus evening calories in adult men and women who are overweight.
The findings revealed that the time calories are consumed can affect appetite and hunger but it has no impact on energy metabolism in adults, obese and overweight, but otherwise healthy.
Professor Johnstone stated that participants were given all their meals for 8 weeks and their energy expenditure and body composition evaluated for changes. The same number of calories were consumed by volunteers during various times of the day with energy expenditure measures using urine analysis.
“This study is important because it challenges the previously held belief that eating at different times of the day leads to differential energy expenditure. The research shows that under weight loss conditions there is no optimum time to eat in order to manage weight, and that change in body weight is determined by energy balance.
“We know that appetite control is important to achieve weight loss, and our study suggests that those consuming the most calories in the morning felt less hungry, in contrast to when they consumed more calories in the evening period, said Professor Johnstone.
