Diet-induced thermogenesis is significantly higher for dietary protein than for carbohydrates and fats due to the greater metabolic cost associated with protein absorption, transport, and amino acid metabolism.

Study: Effects of Varying Protein Amounts and Types on Diet-Induced Thermogenesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study found that eating more protein makes your body burn more calories just to digest it, compared to eating the same amount of carbs or fat — which is exactly what the claim says.

Study: Brown fat-associated postprandial thermogenesis in humans: Different effects of isocaloric meals rich in carbohydrate, fat, and protein

Your body uses more energy to digest protein than carbs or fat — this study found that eating protein made people burn 6.44% of the meal’s calories just from digestion, while carbs burned 3.49% and fat only 2.32%.

Study: Postprandial Thermogenesis Is Increased 100% on a High-Protein, Low-Fat Diet versus a High-Carbohydrate, Low-Fat Diet in Healthy, Young Women

This study found that your body burns twice as many calories digesting a high-protein meal compared to a high-carb meal, which means protein takes more energy to process — just like the claim says.

Study: Thermic response to isoenergetic protein, carbohydrate or fat meals in lean and obese subjects.

Scientists gave people meals with the same calories but made of either protein, carbs, or fat, and found that the body burned the most extra energy digesting protein — just like the claim says.