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.
Scientific Claim
In adults participating in a 16-week high-protein ad-libitum feeding study, the average daily caloric intake varies significantly based on whether a self-selected meal is consumed, with no consistent effect on appetite ratings.
Original Statement
“During the ad libitum portion of a 16 weeks research high-protein feeding study, 19 participants were allowed to eat up to one self-selected meal (SSM) a week instead of an intervention diet meal. [...] On the SSM day, the mean ± SD daily caloric intake increased by 262 ± 332 kcal [...] with no changes in subjective appetite scores.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
This is a factual summary of the observed pattern across the study period, based on repeated measurements and statistical significance.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
When people ate a meal of their own choosing during the study, they ate more calories that day—but didn’t feel hungrier or fuller than usual. So, what they ate changed how much they ate, not how they felt about food.