Andrew O. Odegaard

Objective This study estimated the effect of hypothetical interventions of higher and lower frequency of breakfast and post‐dinner snack consumption (breakfast consumption 0‐4 vs. 5‐7 times/week and post‐dinner snack consumption 0‐2 vs. 3‐7 times/week) on changes in body weight and composition over 18 months after a successful 6‐month standard behavioral weight‐loss program. Methods The study analyzed data from the Innovative Approaches to Diet, Exercise and Activity (IDEA) study. Results If all participants consumed a breakfast meal 5 to 7 times/week over 18 months, they would have regained 2.95 kg of body weight on average (95% CI: 2.01 to 3.96), which is 0.59 kg (95% CI: −0.86 to −0.32) lower than if all participants consumed breakfast 0 to 4 times/week. If all participants consumed a post‐dinner snack 0 to 2 times/week, they would have regained 2.86 kg of body weight on average (95% CI: 0.99 to 5.25), which is 0.83 kg (95% CI: −1.06 to −0.59) lower than if all consumed a post‐dinner snack 3 to 7 times/week. Conclusions Regular breakfast consumption and minimizing post‐dinner snacking may modestly mitigate weight and body fat regain over 18 months after initial weight loss.