The Protein Leverage Theory suggests that the high fat and carbohydrate content in many foods contributes to the development of obesity. According to this theory, the body takes in excess calories to meet its natural protein needs. Recently, a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that obesity and overweight have already reached epidemic proportions in Europe. The problem is even greater in other countries, particularly in the United States, where the WHO considers excess weight to be the greatest health threat to humanity.
For a long time, the energy balance model was the standard for nutritional recommendations in medicine. However, researchers at the Harvard Medical School (HMS) recently published a study that revealed fundamental flaws in the model and described the carbohydrate-insulin model as significantly better. Researchers at the University of Sydney (USYD) have now published a meta-analysis in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, which explains the rapid increase in obesity with the Protein Leverage Theory.
According to this theory, people consume more food when their protein content is low. This is often the case with highly processed foods, which according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) promote the development of obesity. The meta-study by USYD shows that people regulate their protein intake more strongly than any other type of nutrient. If people mainly consume high-fat and carbohydrate-rich foods with a low protein content, the body signals hunger, even though sufficient calories have already been consumed to meet its natural protein needs. The authors argue that the Protein Leverage Theory demonstrates the need for an integrative approach that examines how various factors interact in the development of obesity, rather than considering them as competing explanations.
This will help science to advance the research field and identify the most relevant causes of the rising obesity rate. The study highlights the importance of a balanced diet that includes sufficient protein to meet the body’s natural needs. It also emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the complex interplay of factors that contribute to the development of obesity.
