Obviously, this is a thought experiment. I would never do something like this but my friend had this random thought.
If it is the same amount of calories, is there a metabolic difference between eating a whole lot of candy at once and eating the same amount over many days?
I’ll have some candy while I wait. Thank you.
In: 1
Yes. Your base metabolic rate burns all the time. If you didn’t eat anything else, just the cups – then eating over a longer time would be beneficial as it would sustain you longer. If you ate them all at once your body would consume what it could, burn what it could, and what was left turn to fat for later. Ultimately energy is energy in, but if you burn it over longer period then you’ll have less of the negative effects of insulin spikes, and the obvious fat.
It depends entirely on what else you eat on those days because it is simple mathematics. Your body requires a certain number of calories a day to function, if you eat more you’ll gain a small amount of weight.
If you eat normally every day but add two candies every day then you will slowly gain weight. If you eat a whole packet instead of lunch and then have a tiny dinner because you feel ill and vaguely awful then you may not even have too many calories that day at all.
Your blood’s insulin exposure will differ. Insulin is a hormone in your blood. It helps control where extra calories go. Eating them all at once will result in a very sharp spike in insulin immediately when the calories are consumed. Eating them over many days will expose you to consistently elevated insulin levels for a longer time. This could result in insulin resistance if it continues for long enough. I’m not an expert myself, I read a book called The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung which talks extensively about insulin and its effects. I recommend taking a look at it if you’re interested.
Your blood’s insulin exposure will be differ. Insulin is a hormone in your blood. It helps control where extra calories go. Eating then all at once will result in a sharp spike in insulin immediately when the calories are consumed. Eating them over many days will expose you to consistently higher insulin levels for a longer time. This could result in insulin resistance if it continues for long enough. I’m not an expert myself. I read a book called The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung which talks extensively about insulin and its effects. I recommend taking a look at it if you’re interested.
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