It is a common misconception that skipping meals will accelerate weight loss because you are eating less. In fact, exactly the opposite is true. Skipping meals can lead to food cravings, binge eating and weight gain. This is because you are more likely to overeat and choose high calorie, high fat foods when you are extremely hungry.

Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day are heavier than those who eat breakfast and four to five small meals a day. Eating regularly helps you maintain a higher metabolic rate so that you burn more calories, and it helps control your appetite.

When you do not eat for a prolonged period of time, like when you skip a meal, your body goes into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down to preserve energy. This means that your body will compensate for the inadequate calories by burning fewer calories than it normally would. When your body goes into starvation mode it does not draw from its fat stores for energy, and this makes it virtually impossible to lose weight. Once you do eat, your body will store those calories, rather than use them, because it expects you to starve it again.

If you are dieting, do it the healthy way by following a well-balanced diet that includes all the food groups, and do not skip meals. You are more likely to lose weight if you eat regularly throughout the day. Eating smaller meals more frequently helps keep both your blood sugar and your metabolism on an even keel allowing you to feel better, burn more calories and lose weight.