Originally coined nearly two decades ago by researchers in Australia, the protein leverage hypothesis believes that since the human body is naturally driven to seek out and consume protein, we tend to keep eating until our daily protein (amino acid) needs are met.
Unfortunately, the ultra-processed 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 to satisfy our protein requirements and, in doing so, consume an excessive amount of calories leading to weight gain.
This concept recently resurfaced in an investigation in Obesity which found that when people ate a fairly-low-protein breakfast, they tended to consume larger amounts of food and more highly processed energy-dense foods in subsequent meals than those who consumed a higher protein morning meal. This can result in an overconsumption of fat and carbs and what’s known as “protein dilution.”
These findings appear to support the protein leverage hypothesis, as it suggests individuals were trying to meet their protein needs by eating more food throughout the day. They also lend some support for the idea that protein deficits may play a central role in the obesity problem gripping the nation. But many factors play a role in calorie intake, including the fact that ultraprocessed foods taste so good and are widely available, assuring that we are driven to keep eating them. It’s likely this drive to satisfy protein needs is just one of a number of complex factors involved in obesity.
See also: 30 Grams of Protein
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