And, eating again shortly afterwards and the fat stores around the middle will grow and grow, according to the study by Oxford University, which contradicts the widely held belief that weight gain is gradual.
Those who like to tuck in at dinner should take particular note, say the researchers, because fat from meals eaten later in the day is particularly likely to be stored around the middle, the 'Daily Mail' reported.
It was earlier believed that had been thought that fat from food was transported from the gut into the blood, where it could be used by the muscles as needed. Any excess was thought to be slowly stored in the fatty tissue around the waist, hips and legs.
However, the Oxford University research suggests a more complex -- and rapid -- process.
In the experiments, volunteers ate fat which could be traced around the body. This was found to take around an hour to be broken down in the gut and then enter the bloodstream as tiny droplets.
The droplets are then whisked around the body -- but not for long -- before they are "caught" and stored. (MORE)
