Does body absorb nutrients less efficiently if we ingest the same amount at the same time, opposed to spreading over a larger period?
LARGE MEALS AND ABSORPTION

When consumed in usual amounts, the percent of absorbed macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, alcohol) should not differ significantly when coming from one large or several small meals.

As an example of the composition of a single large meal, let's imagine something that fits into Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR) in a 2,000 calorie diet: 250 g of carbohydrates, 70 g of proteins and 80 g of fats.

Most carbohydrates are digested into glucose and fructose. Glucose, when absorbed as the only carbohydrate (ingested as glucose or starch), can be absorbed at the rate 60 g/min, but the addition of fructose can increase the absorption of both together to as high as 126 g/min. When fructose is absorbed as the only carbohydrate or in the excess of glucose, it's absorption limit from one meal can be as low as 5 g or as high as 50+ grams. Certain sugar alcohols (see Table 4) (sorbitol, isomalt..) can trigger diarrhea when consumed in amounts greater than ~20 g/meal.

Virtually all ingested protein is absorbed by healthy humans (Surgery Journal). The rate of absorption depends on a type of protein: about 10 g of whey protein and 3 g of egg protein can be absorbed in one hour (JISSN).

At least 60 grams of fat consumed at once can be normally absorbed, concluding from a study in which they investigated the relationship between the amount of fat consumed and atherosclerosis.

In conclusion, the amount of macronutrients (except fructose and sugar alcohols) consumed with a single meal does not seem to significantly affect the percent of macronutrients absorbed, but it prolongs the time in which they are absorbed.

LARGE MEALS AND DIET INDUCED THERMOGENESIS

After eating one large meal, more of the consumed calories will be lost as heat than after eating several small meals: 


  Consuming the same meal as a single bolus eating event compared to
  multiple small meals or snacks was associated with a significantly
  higher DIT [diet induced thermogenesis]. (Nutrients, 2016)
  
  TEF [thermic effect of food] was measured by indirect calorimetry
  for three hours following each meal and was found to increase
  systematically, in a nonlinear fashion, as meal size was increased. 
  (Metabolism, 1984)