Midmorning Snacking Affects Weight Loss

Snacking between breakfast and lunch is probably not a good idea for women trying to lose weight, according to researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Women who ate a midmorning snack lost an average of 7% of their body weight over the course of 1-year, whereas women who did not snack before lunch lost 11% of their body weight. It was found that women who snacked in the morning were more likely to snack more frequently throughout the day. The study also found that women who snacked in the afternoon were more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables compared to women who did not snack in the afternoon.

Researchers feel that this finding may not be related necessarily to the time of day one snacks, but rather to the relatively short interval between breakfast and lunch. Study researcher Anne McTiernan said, "Midmorning snacking might be a reflection of recreational or mindless eating habits, rather than eating to satisfy true hunger." Researchers feel that eating healthy snacks can help dieters reach their goals by staving off hunger.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Source: Medindia