The concept of eating five small meals a day has been linked to boosting metabolism, but there’s actually no scientific basis for this. In fact, not only does it not rev up your metabolism, but it could actually cause over-eating, especially as many people have trouble keeping their portions in check. People who do lose weight using this method aren’t experiencing a boost in metabolism, but rather are curbing their cravings and preventing grazing. That’s what leads to weight loss, not an increase in metabolism.