Adults who are overweight eat less than those of normal weight, yet consume more calories and are less physically active, according to a US study conducted at the Department of Nutrition at Marywood University, Pennsylvania.
"Most research indicates that people who eat more often have less weight, but still no one knows why," said the leader of the mentioned study, Jessica Bechman, as reported by Reuters.
The study included about 250 adult men and women, who were monitored over the course of a year. A part of the respondents had a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 47, which means that they were overweight or formally obese. Another portion of the subjects had a BMI between 19 and 24,9, and half of that group had previously lost at least 30 pounds (13,6 kg) and maintained the new weight for more than five years.
On average, subjects from the normal weight group had three meals and a little more than two snacks every day, while those from the overweight group had an average of three meals and a little more than one snack.
The fewest calories during the day, on average around 1.800, were in the diet of people who had previously lost weight and maintained that weight, while people who had always been of normal weight consumed an average of 1.900 calories, and those with extra pounds 2.000 calories per day. Bečmenova points out that frequent snacks may have a beneficial effect on weight because they prevent excessive hunger, which often leads to overeating.
People who once lost weight and maintained their normal weight, spent the most calories on physical activities - an average of 3.000 per week. Those subjects who were always of normal body weight spent an average of 2.000 calories per week on physical activities, while those with extra pounds consumed an average of only 800 calories per week through physical activity.
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