The Claim

In individuals with high disinhibited eating behavior, a high-protein meal (65% protein, 5% carbohydrate) reduces subsequent food wanting and energy intake by approximately 32% (1.7 MJ vs. 2.5 MJ) during non-stressful conditions, but this reduction is not observed under acute psychological stress.

Source: Lack of effect of high-protein vs. high-carbohydrate meal intake on stress-related mood and eating behavior

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
68score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Among people with high disinhibited eating behavior, a meal high in protein and low in carbohydrates reduces how much they want to eat and how much they consume later, but only when they are not under acute psychological stress.

See the scientific wording

In individuals with high disinhibited eating behavior, a high-protein meal (65% protein, 5% carbohydrate) reduces subsequent food wanting and energy intake by approximately 32% (1.7 MJ vs. 2.5 MJ) during non-stressful conditions, but this effect is abolished under acute psychological stress, indicating that stress overrides the satiating influence of protein in this subgroup.

Why this might work

When a person eats a high-protein meal, their gut releases signals that tell the brain to stop wanting food. But when stress happens, the body releases a hormone that blocks those signals, so the brain keeps telling the person to eat more.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Lack of effect of high-protein vs. high-carbohydrate meal intake on stress-related mood and eating behavior

    For people who tend to eat impulsively, a high-protein meal helps them feel full and eat less later — but only if they’re relaxed. When they’re stressed, that benefit vanishes, and they eat just as much as before.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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