More Protein Helps You Burn Fat After Losing Weight
High Compared with Moderate Protein Intake Reduces Adaptive Thermogenesis and Induces a Negative Energy Balance during Long-term Weight-Loss Maintenance in Participants with Prediabetes in the Postobese State: A PREVIEW Study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
A high-protein diet (25% energy) completely eliminated adaptive thermogenesis after 34 months—something no other dietary intervention has shown to do this long-term.
Most experts thought metabolic slowdown after weight loss was permanent. This study proves it can be reversed with diet alone, even years later.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for 25% of daily calories from protein—e.g., if you eat 2000 kcal/day, that’s 125g of protein. Prioritize lean meats, eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu, and whey.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
A high-protein diet (25% energy) completely eliminated adaptive thermogenesis after 34 months—something no other dietary intervention has shown to do this long-term.
Most experts thought metabolic slowdown after weight loss was permanent. This study proves it can be reversed with diet alone, even years later.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for 25% of daily calories from protein—e.g., if you eat 2000 kcal/day, that’s 125g of protein. Prioritize lean meats, eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu, and whey.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of Nutrition
Year
2019
Authors
M. Drummen, Lea Tischmann, B. Gatta-Cherifi, M. Fogelholm, A. Raben, T. Adam, M. Westerterp-Plantenga
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Claims (10)
When people who lost weight eat more protein, their bodies use more of that protein for energy and repair, rather than storing it.
After losing weight, your body tries to burn fewer calories than it should — but eating more protein helps your body return to its normal calorie-burning rate.
When you eat more protein after losing weight, your body holds onto more muscle instead of breaking it down.
The more your body slows down its calorie burning after losing weight, the more likely you are to eat more than you burn — which makes you gain weight back.
When people who lost weight eat more protein and fewer carbs, their bodies burn more calories at rest and end up in a calorie deficit, which might help them keep the weight off.