MEALS |
WHO IS HUNGRY,
MOVE MORE!
THREE OR FIVE MEALS A DAY?
Swiss researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have now discovered this. In doing so, they have also provided a valuable argument as to why three large meals might be better than five small ones spread over the day.
Foxa2 is involved in fat burning processes in the liver, among other things. It also influences the hypothalamus. This region of the brain controls food intake, among other things. In the hypothalamus, Foxa2 stimulates the production of certain hormones that control the urge to move and food intake, which, as already mentioned, influence each other.
URGE TO MOVE IS SUPPRESSED
Normally, the activity of Foxa2 is controlled by insulin levels. The longer it has been since a meal, the hungrier you are, the insulin levels drop and the protein becomes more active. The Swiss researchers found a disorder in obese mice. Foxa2 was inactive, regardless of insulin levels. The urge to move was therefore permanently suppressed in the fat mice, regardless of whether they were hungry or had just eaten.As a counter test, the scientists bred a type of mouse in which Foxa2 was permanently active. And these mice actually moved five times more than the fat mice. In addition, their sugar and fat metabolism was accelerated. As a result, they not only broke down fat tissue and built up muscle mass more quickly, they also had better blood values.
The results from the mice can also be applied to humans. The Swiss therefore assume that the lack of motivation and unwillingness to exercise in obese people is due to the inactive Foxa2. In terms of diet, the researchers conclude that the body needs periods of hunger to stay healthy. According to the scientists, it is therefore better to eat three large meals a day rather than five small ones.