Franklin links moderation in eating with better health and a reduced need for medical treatment. The reference to eating few suppers reflects an older belief that heavy or frequent evening meals could contribute to illness, particularly through overindulgence and poor digestion. The saying therefore presents restraint at the table as a form of preventive care.

The broader point is less about avoiding a particular meal than about avoiding excess. Franklin repeatedly associated moderation with self-discipline, thrift and physical well-being, and this proverb applies that principle to diet. Modern medicine would not support the literal claim that eating fewer suppers necessarily means needing fewer medicines, since health depends on many factors. As practical advice, however, the quotation expresses a durable idea: habits that reduce avoidable strain on the body may help prevent some problems before treatment becomes necessary.