Even when researchers accounted for people eating lots of sweets and junk food, those who ate fewer meals still had higher obesity rates, meaning the problem isn’t just about what they snack on.

Scientific Claim

In middle-aged men, the association between low eating frequency and obesity remains significant even after adjusting for intake of cakes, pastries, soft drinks, and confectionery, suggesting the link is not driven by unhealthy snacking.

Original Statement

“However, men with a low eating frequency still had an increased risk of general (P=0.044) and central obesity (P=0.043) (Table 5, model 3).”

From study:A high eating frequency is associated with an overall healthy lifestyle in middle-aged men and women and reduced likelihood of general and central obesity in men

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 claim accurately reflects the adjusted analysis and avoids causal language, correctly interpreting the statistical robustness of the association.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

A high eating frequency is associated with an overall healthy lifestyle in middle-aged men and women and reduced likelihood of general and central obesity in men

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2010 Oct

The study found that men who ate fewer meals a day were more likely to be overweight, even when researchers accounted for how much junk food they ate—so it’s not just about snacking, but how often you eat overall.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

A high eating frequency is associated with an overall healthy lifestyle in middle-aged men and women and reduced likelihood of general and central obesity in men

Score: 42

DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510001753

Similar Assertions

Even when men ate the same number of total calories, those who ate fewer meals were still more likely to be obese, meaning it’s not just about how much they eat, but when and how often.

86%

Men who eat only three meals or fewer a day are more than twice as likely to be obese compared to men who snack and eat more often, even when they eat the same total amount of food.

82%

Men who eat fewer meals per day are more likely to smoke, drink more alcohol, and be less physically active than men who eat more often.

82%

Men who eat fewer meals are more than twice as likely to have a very large waistline, even if they eat the same number of calories as men who eat more often.

80%

For women in this study, how often they ate didn’t seem to affect whether they were obese or had a large waist, unlike in men.

76%