Some may think that skipping a meal or two could help with weight loss, but new research indicates that this might be doing the opposite.

In a January study published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, researchers organized two different groups of mice and observed their eating habits. One group was allowed to graze on food throughout the day, while the other set fasted throughout the day and gorged on all their food in one four-hour session.

The mice that gorged developed insulin resistance, which indicates prediabetes. They also gained more fat in their abdomens.

Insulin resistance is bad news because it leads the body to produce more glucose than it actually needs. Because the bloodstream contains more sugar than it needs, the excess sugar is stored as fat.

Both groups of mice ended up having the same weight at the end of the experiment, but there was one difference: the mice who gorged their meals were more likely to have extra fat around their bellies.

The gorging mice ended up bingeing and fasting throughout the experiment, which most people don’t do during a normal day. However, some people do eat only one large meal a day, and this behavior can have similar effects to those seen in the gorging in mice.

So, how does a person stay on track and keep extra weight away from the midsection? Nutritionists advise people to eat small, healthy meals throughout the day.

High-quality, nutrient-rich food such as lean proteins, whole grains and good fats are the way to go. Increasing the intensity of your exercise can also help.

Instead of depriving your body of the nutrients it needs, focus on the quality of your meals and you’ll find your way to a healthy weight.