Even though people might not remember exactly when they ate, the general patterns of when and how often they eat still line up with whether they gain or lose weight over time.

Scientific Claim

In a cohort of 50,660 North American adults aged 30 and older, self-reported meal frequency and timing data are associated with BMI change despite potential measurement error, indicating that even imperfect dietary recall can capture meaningful behavioral patterns linked to long-term weight trends.

Original Statement

“Potential weaknesses include the nonprospective nature of our analyses... Probable errors in self-reported measures of meal frequency and timing (which were not validated)...”

From study:Meal Frequency and Timing Are Associated with Changes in Body Mass Index in Adventist Health Study 2.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The authors transparently acknowledge measurement error and do not overstate the precision of the data. The conclusion that associations persist despite limitations is appropriately cautious and evidence-based.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Meal Frequency and Timing Are Associated with Changes in Body Mass Index in Adventist Health Study 2.

Cohort Study

Human

2017 Sep

Even though people might not remember exactly what they ate, this big study found that those who ate fewer meals, skipped snacks, ate breakfast, and had their biggest meal in the morning tended to lose weight over time—so their answers still showed real patterns.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Meal Frequency and Timing Are Associated with Changes in Body Mass Index in Adventist Health Study 2.

Score: 67

DOI: 10.3945/jn.116.244749

Similar Assertions

Whether you’re male or female, young or old, or active or not, eating meals at certain times still seems to affect your weight the same way — the pattern holds up for most people.

85%

Each year, these eating habits only change your weight by a tiny bit — but over 20 or 30 years, that adds up to a big difference in whether you stay lean or gain a lot of weight.

83%

Even though older people tend to lose weight as they age, those who eat fewer meals or skip snacks still gain less weight than others their age — meaning meal habits matter no matter how old you are.

82%

The healthiest pattern for avoiding weight gain seems to be eating just two meals — breakfast and lunch — with a few hours between them, and then not eating again until the next morning.

74%

For white people, eating the biggest meal at lunch seems to help prevent weight gain more than it does for Black people — suggesting that the same eating pattern might not work the same way for everyone.

73%