36 THE EFFECT OF MEAL FREQUENCY ON POSTPRANDIAL THERMOGENESIS IN OBESE CHILDREN

Abstract

The present investigation was planned to study the effect of meal frequency on diet induced thermogenesis (DIT) in obese children (3 boys, 2 girls). Their body weight, body fat and lean body mass (LBM)were 13-7 +-0.6yr, 100.5+-7.0 kg, 38.9,-1.35 and 61.8+-3.3 kg (mean+-SE), respectively. Postprandial resting metabolic rate (RMR)was monitored for 5h continuously by indirect calorimetry. The children consumed 1 large meal (60 kJ/ kg LBM), or 3 consecutive small meals (20 kJ/kg LBM) at 1.5h intervals on subsequent days.The average oxygen consumption was 4. 4+-0.1 and 4.46+-0.08 ml/kg LBM/min before eating the large or small meals, respectively. DIT was higher after the consumption of one large than after small meals (5.71+-0.27 vs 3-53+-0.45 kJ/kg LBM/5h, p<0.02).The postmeal plasma insulin level was higher at 30 (92.5+-10.9 vs 51.5+-6.7 μU/ml) and 60 rain (92.0+-11.0 vs 55.3+-9.3 μU/ml, p<0.05)after the large meal than after the small meal.Conclusion:In obese children DIT is decreased when meal frequency is increased. The higher insulin response following the large meal may be a factor promoting DIT.