One study indicated that skipping dinner could lead to weight gain, and the latest research published in the (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) suggests that avoiding your nightly meal may expose you to long-term weight increase. Researchers at (Osaka University) examined health records of 17,573 males and 8,860 females over the age of 18 over a three-year period. They found that study participants who regularly skipped dinner were more likely to gain weight or become overweight. It was also found that skipping dinner could be a common factor among 10.8% of male participants and 17.1% of female participants who gained weight.
According to the study's results, weight gain and skipping dinner were linked to increased weight and obesity in men and women, respectively, more so than skipping breakfast and lunch. Among the male and female participants who gained weight during the study, many were likely older, overweight, slept less, consumed more alcohol, or smoked more and skipped other meals compared to those who regularly had dinner. In contrast to their female counterparts, it was also likely that male students who gained weight had dinner later compared to those who did not gain weight, or at least this was the case when they chose not to skip the evening meal entirely.
The researchers noted that they did not understand why skipping dinner was linked to weight gain. Nevertheless, they theorized that the relationship between the two might be due to "increased energy intake" that could occur under irregular appetite, meaning that skipping dinner might raise hunger thresholds, which may lead a person to consume more food than usual. The researchers suggested that further studies should be conducted on this topic; however, they were able to formulate a hypothesis regarding skipping dinner and its potential relationship with weight gain. They stated, "The study identified skipping dinner as a significant indicator of weight gain and obesity, especially as the frequency of having dinner may be a critical factor in determining lifestyle for obesity prevention, similar to the frequency of having breakfast."
