There are countless approaches to weight loss but with evidence showing that calorie intake shifts with the timing of meals, it makes sense to adhere to a schedule.
Broadening the window between dinner and breakfast enhances the body’s ability to lose fat by prolonging the time it has to burn calories.
This will optimise the body’s natural metabolic rhythms, which in turn, plays a critical role in controlling hunger hormones.
Experts generally propose eating breakfast within an hour of waking to help boost the body’s metabolism.
Allowing the body enough time to digest after dinner is key to weight loss
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Laura Southern, a nutritional therapist at London Gynaecology, told GB News: “One thing I often recommend with my patients is intermittent fasting.
“If I recommend intermittent fasting with a patient then it will usually be a 12-hour overnight ‘fast’ and gaps between meals.”
Even though there is convincing evidence that timing meals assists in weight loss, the same patterns may not work for everyone, stresses Laura.
“Whilst for some people this could mean skipping a meal, again I would never advise anyone to do that without support,” she explained.
“It is simply not suitable or necessary for many people,” explained Laura.
“Skipping meals, or eating in a restricted way can lead to binge eating, which creates unhealthy behaviours and won’t ultimately support weight loss.”
One of the safer methods for weight loss is to slightly widen the number of hours we go without eating between meals to increase the bracket of calorie burn.
To further enhance the efficacy of intermittent eating patterns, Laura recommends eating meals that emphasise a wide range of nutrients.
“If you are eating in this way though it’s important to ensure you’re eating really tasty, nutrient-dense meals otherwise you are again at risk of binges.”
Although a lengthy break between dinner and breakfast is recommended, the overarching focus should be on maintaining a structured and consistent meal schedule.
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PAInitiating and concluding meals at the same time every day - ideally two to three hours before bedtime - helps the body foster an environment conducive to fat burn.
This is because the body needs enough time to digest meals before the metabolic rate slows down during sleep.
A regular eating pattern such as the one described above will not only boost fast burning but will also avoid the hormonal disruptions that impede weight loss efforts.
Intermittent fasting will also help individuals eat fewer calories while maintaining muscle mass, which boosts the metabolism.