Eating less protein makes people eat more calories — but not because they feel hungrier. Something else is going on.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Self-selected meal composition alters the relationship between same-day caloric intake and appetite scores in humans during a long-term ad-libitum feeding study

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2023 Mar

Even when people felt just as hungry or full as usual, they ate more calories after having a meal with less protein—meaning their bodies were responding to protein levels in a way that didn’t involve feeling hungrier or fuller.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Self-selected meal composition alters the relationship between same-day caloric intake and appetite scores in humans during a long-term ad-libitum feeding study

Score: 51

DOI: 10.1007/s00394-022-03040-5

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Eating a meal with less protein makes you eat more calories — but not because you’re hungrier. Something else about the meal is making you eat more.

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