Does Protein Really Curb Your Appetite?

It's hard not to get misled by misinformation, or hype, when you're searching for reliable information on weight management. The daily rush to publish makes even seemingly reliable sources vulnerable to "getting it wrong"—because it takes time to do enough research to make sure you've got it right.

Nutrition Action didn't 'get it right' with their recent post on protein and appetite: Does Protein Really Curb Your Appetite?

After more than two decades specializing in weight management I have 52 papers tagged under "appetite regulation" in my research database. Appetite regulation is a fascinating and important topic within weight management. I covered it in my 6-hour Advanced Training in Weight Management CE workshop back in 2003 and 2004, and since then have only seen one other seminar on macronutrients and appetite regulation cross my desk. I know the key papers off the top of my head, and I know that the fact that protein has a higher satiety value is not even a question among researchers who are experts in that area.

That said, there are several important caveats...

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Diet soda and stroke: What you need to know

I'm no fan of processed foods, or soda of any type, for that matter. That said, I am frustrated with the press this topic has gotten because it's regarding unpublished (meaning not yet peer reviewed) research. Anyone in a grad school statistics class learns that more than 50% of "research" isn't worth the paper it's printed on. That's because research is conducted by humans who make lots of mistakes analyzing data (using statistics properly) as well as in study design. The "poster session" that got the buzz on this topic started was also based on "observational" data, that at most can point us toward a topic that needs controlled trials in order to see if there is a true causal affect.

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