What you eat in one meal matters more for how many calories you eat that day than how hungry or full you feel.

Scientific Claim

In adults on a long-term ad-libitum high-protein diet, the total daily caloric intake is more strongly influenced by the macronutrient composition of a single self-selected meal than by subjective appetite ratings.

Original Statement

“On the SSM day, percent protein intake was inversely associated mean daily caloric intake (r2 = 0.22, P = 0.03). [...] with no changes in subjective 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 claim implies a comparative strength ('more strongly influenced') that requires statistical testing of effect sizes between variables, which was not performed.

More Accurate Statement

“In adults on a long-term ad-libitum high-protein diet, the macronutrient composition of a single self-selected meal is associated with daily caloric intake, while subjective appetite ratings show no consistent association.”

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

When people ate one meal with less protein during a long-term study, they ended up eating way more calories that day—even though they didn’t feel hungrier or fuller than usual. This means what’s in the meal matters more than how hungry you feel.

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

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

92%

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.

91%

When people on a high-protein diet eat a meal they choose themselves, their total calories go up — but they don’t feel any different in hunger or fullness.

90%

Even when people eat more or less than usual because they chose a different meal, they don’t feel hungrier or fuller than normal.

89%

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

89%