On a high-protein diet where people eat without calorie limits, body weight and fat mass still decrease even though hormones that regulate hunger and fullness change in ways that would typically...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
More protein makes the brain more sensitive to the fullness signal from leptin, so even when leptin drops, you still feel satisfied and eat less. This keeps you in a calorie deficit, so your body keeps burning fat even when hunger signals rise.
Most probable mechanism
Eating more protein makes the brain more responsive to the fullness signal from leptin, even when there is less leptin in the blood. This causes people to feel full sooner and eat less, which leads to burning fat and losing weight, even though the body sends hunger signals.
Dietary protein intake increases to 30% of total energy
Fat mass decreases due to negative energy balance, reducing circulating leptin concentrations
Central nervous system sensitivity to leptin increases in hypothalamic appetite centers
Enhanced leptin signaling suppresses hunger signals and reduces spontaneous food intake
Reduced caloric intake maintains negative energy balance, leading to continued fat mass loss
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Contradicting (0)
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