For years, we have been told that three square meals a day are essential to health. But popular dieting advice suggests that eating more often in small amounts may be a better approach. Some new diets advocate going the other way: consuming only one small meal a couple of days a week, followed by days of unrestricted eating.

These diets claim to help people manage the tricky business of taking in fewer calories. What does science say about their effectiveness?

Let us start with the idea that lots of little meals are better than three squares. While numerous studies have indicated a link between a snacking diet (four to six small meals or adding healthful snacks to the three squares) and a healthy weight, the research remains inconclusive.