Eating extra protein doesn’t burn more calories over time if you’re already eating enough for muscle growth.
Scientific Claim
Chronic elevation of protein intake beyond the threshold required for maximal muscle protein synthesis does not sustainably increase diet-induced thermogenesis or total daily energy expenditure.
Original Statement
“However, once you're at an optimal protein intake for muscle growth, further increasing your protein intake just for the thermic effect of food is probably not that beneficial, based on these results, because the researchers found that the overall thermic effect of protein was not that impressive. The researchers analyzed 28 studies and found that in short term studies, looking at single meals, high protein meals indeed had a higher thermic effect of food than low protein meals. However, in long term studies there was no longer a significant advantage.”
Context Details
Domain
nutrition
Population
human
Subject
chronic protein intake beyond optimal levels
Action
does not sustainably increase
Target
diet-induced thermogenesis
Intervention Details
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Even though eating more protein made people burn a little more calories right after meals, it didn’t help them keep the weight off in the long run — so extra protein doesn’t keep your metabolism turned up enough to make a lasting difference.
Contradicting (3)
This study found that eating more protein than usual helped people burn more calories and lose weight even after losing weight before — which is the opposite of what the claim says.
Effects of Varying Protein Amounts and Types on Diet-Induced Thermogenesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The study found that eating more protein over a long time actually burns more calories per day, even if it doesn’t make you burn more right after meals — which means the claim that it doesn’t help is wrong.
The Effects of High Protein Diets on Thermogenesis, Satiety and Weight Loss: A Critical Review
The study found that eating more protein makes your body burn more calories through digestion, which is the opposite of what the claim says — so the claim is wrong.