The day after eating a meal with less protein than usual, people tend to eat about 60 fewer calories than normal.

Scientific Claim

Following a self-selected meal lower in protein, daily caloric intake is associated with a small but significant reduction of 58 kcal the next day in adults on a long-term ad-libitum feeding protocol.

Original Statement

“The following day there was a slight but significant reduction in intake (−58 ± 85 kcal, P = 0.008) compared to the average pre-SSM day with no change in appetite scores.”

From 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

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The term 'reduction' implies causation, but the design is observational and cannot rule out confounding factors such as behavioral compensation or measurement variability.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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

After people ate one meal with less protein than usual, they naturally ate about 58 fewer calories the next day—even though they didn’t feel hungrier or fuller. This matches what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

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

Similar Assertions

When people eat a meal with less protein than usual, they tend to eat more total calories that day — and this pattern holds up even when accounting for other factors.

88%

Eating a meal you choose yourself makes you eat more that day and a little less the next day — but then you go back to normal.

87%

When people eating a high-protein diet skip their planned meal and choose something with less protein, they tend to eat about 260 more calories that day.

86%

How full or hungry people feel doesn’t explain why they eat more or less after choosing their own meal.

85%

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

83%