Your body uses a lot more energy to digest protein than it does to digest carbs or fat — up to 30% of the calories from protein are used just for digestion, while fat barely uses any.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Diet induced thermogenesis

Narrative Review

2004 Aug 18

This study found that eating protein makes your body burn more calories after eating than eating carbs or fat does, which is exactly what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Diet induced thermogenesis

Score: 1

DOI: 10.1186/1743-7075-1-5

Similar Assertions

Diet-induced thermogenesis is significantly higher for dietary protein compared to carbohydrates and fats due to the greater metabolic cost of protein absorption, transport, and amino acid metabolism.

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92%

Diet-induced thermogenesis is significantly higher for dietary protein compared to carbohydrates and fats due to the energetic cost of protein absorption, metabolism, and amino acid synthesis.

61

42

92%

Eating more protein makes your body burn a bit more calories just to digest it, compared to eating less protein.

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87%

Eating a meal with more protein makes your body burn more calories right after eating — but only if you’re not overweight; if you are, this calorie-burning boost doesn’t happen.

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86%

Eating a meal with more protein makes your body burn more calories right after eating—but only if you’re not overweight; if you are, this calorie-burning boost doesn’t happen.

56

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86%