Obesity

Study states low-protein processed foods are driving obesity epidemic

Study states low-protein processed foods are driving obesity epidemic
The research suggests that in order to meet their daily protein requirements, people eat too much in the way of low-protein processed foods
The research suggests that in order to meet their daily protein requirements, people eat too much in the way of low-protein processed foods
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The research suggests that in order to meet their daily protein requirements, people eat too much in the way of low-protein processed foods
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The research suggests that in order to meet their daily protein requirements, people eat too much in the way of low-protein processed foods

Processed foods have never been favorites of nutritionists, and recent research now bolsters the claim that such foods are the leading cause of obesity in the Western world. It all comes down to something known as the Protein Leverage Hypothesis.

Developed by the University of Sydney's professors David Raubenheimer and Stephen Simpson, the hypothesis was initially put forward 18 years ago.

It begins with the concept that because the human body is naturally driven to seek out and consume protein, we tend to keep eating until our daily protein needs are met. Unfortunately, the processed and refined foods that make up much of the Western diet are typically low in protein. As a result, we end up eating large amounts of those foods – which are often rich in fats and carbohydrates – in order to satisfy our protein requirements.

For the new study, a U Sydney team led by Dr. Amanda Grech set out to see how much the Protein Leverage Hypothesis actually plays out in the real world. In order to do so, the scientists analyzed data from the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, which documented nutrition and physical activity in 9,341 Australian adults between May 2011 and June 2012.

Among other things, it was found that when people ate a fairly low-protein breakfast, they tended to consume larger amounts of food in subsequent meals. This finding supports the hypothesis, as it suggests that the individuals were trying to meet their protein needs by eating more food throughout the day.

And likewise, it was also observed that when people ate a breakfast with more protein, their food intake was lower for subsequent meals. It should additionally be noted that as compared to their counterparts who had lower-protein breakfasts, people who had higher-protein breakfasts consumed fewer energy-dense foods high in saturated fats, sugar and salt later in the day.

"The results support an integrated ecological and mechanistic explanation for obesity, in which low-protein, highly processed foods lead to higher energy intake in response to a nutrient imbalance driven by a dominant appetite for protein," said Prof. Raubenheimer. "It supports a central role for protein in the obesity epidemic, with significant implications for global health."

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal Obesity.

Source: University of Sydney

4 comments
4 comments
Bernd1991
Hmmm strange to take that specific data from 2012.
If they were using other data set, couldn't they have performed it on much larger data sets over the last 20 years?
Louis Rebolloso
Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung - We actually need to return to eating more fat, not protein. Turns out the war on fat actually caused the obesity epidemic. Prior to that everyone knew carbohydrates caused obesity. Then they blamed fat and all of a sudden high processed carbohydrates were innocent.
It's also has more to do with hormones like insulin than with calories. Eating all day, grazing, has caused us to keep stimulating insulin all day causing insulin resistance, which then causes more insulin creation. Humans should not eat more than 3 times a day without snacking or drinking anything other than water in-between. Even diet zero calorie drinks and snacks cause a insulin celphatic response. Read the book, it's eye opening.
doliver
Besides the observation that the high protein group ate less food later, it was observe that they consumed less energy dense foods and salt later. Is this because of the eating the high protein breakfast or other factors that were instrumental in why they ate a high protein breakfast; such as personal taste, diet beliefs or available food?
How much is coincidental vs casual! Good test would be control their breakfast in a blind scenario and allow them to control their other eating in their 'natural habitat'.
ljaques
@Louis Rebolloso another good book is _Eat Fat, Lose Fat_ by Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. Their research, too, found that once the person's fat allotment was made, hunger vanished and they stopped eating. Also, their studies showed that people eating low-fat foods ate more of both those foods and other food since their bodies had not received the "full" signals that fat provides. There are good and bad fats. I've always been a high protein snacker, and Dr. Grech's ancient ;) study gives me more of an inkling why.