People who eat at irregular times run a greater risk of developing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, a condition which includes multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The chances of developing the components of the syndrome, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance, are affected by several lifestyle factors, of which diet is thought to be one of the most important.

Researchers have now shown for the first time that the frequency of meals, regardless of their content, affects the chances of developing metabolic syndrome. The study was based on a survey and medical examination of over four thousand 60-year old men and women.