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.
Scientific Claim
In middle-aged men, a higher daily eating frequency is associated with a 2.09-fold higher likelihood of severe central obesity (waist ≥102 cm) compared to those eating six or more meals per day, independent of total energy intake and lifestyle factors.
Original Statement
“Eating three or fewer meals per d was also associated with increased likelihood of general and central obesity in men when adjusting for total energy intake, lifestyle and dietary factors.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The term 'increased likelihood' implies directionality without proving causation. The study design cannot determine if low eating frequency causes central obesity or vice versa.
More Accurate Statement
“In middle-aged men, a lower daily eating frequency (three or fewer meals) is associated with a higher likelihood of severe central obesity (waist ≥102 cm) compared to those eating six or more meals per day, independent of total energy intake and lifestyle factors.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
The study found that men who ate more meals a day were less likely to have a large waistline, while the claim says the opposite—that eating more meals makes obesity worse. So the study directly contradicts the claim.