The Claim

Acute psychological stress eliminates the decrease in food wanting and energy intake that follows a high-protein meal in individuals with disinhibited eating behavior, indicating that stress negates the satiating effects of protein in this subgroup irrespective of meal composition.

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.

How it works
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In people with disinhibited eating behavior, acute psychological stress prevents the normal reduction in hunger and food intake that occurs after eating a high-protein meal, regardless of what else is in the meal.

See the scientific wording

Acute psychological stress abolishes the reduction in food wanting and energy intake following a high-protein meal in individuals with disinhibited eating behavior, demonstrating that stress overrides the satiating effects of protein in this subgroup regardless of meal composition.

Why this might work

When a person is stressed, the body releases cortisol, which blocks the signals that tell the brain it's full after eating protein. At the same time, cortisol increases the brain's response to food rewards, making the person keep wanting to eat even after a filling meal.

Supported 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

    When people who tend to eat impulsively are relaxed, eating a high-protein meal helps them eat less later — but when they’re stressed, that benefit vanishes. Stress cancels out the power of protein to make them feel full.

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

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