A RCT Study on 3 Different Weight Loss Programs
Millions of people around the world struggle with weight loss every day, trying different diets and exercise plans in a never-ending cycle.
But what if I told you that increased protein intake may be the key to successful and sustainable weight loss rather than just reducing overall calorie intake? This is exactly what a recent randomized controlled trial study aimed to discover.
The Study
The study was conducted by Paul J. and colleagues to compare the effects of different protein intakes and meal frequencies on abdominal fat, postprandial thermogenesis, and biomarkers related to weight loss. The study was conducted for 56 days with two phases - an energy balance phase and an energy deficit phase.
It involved 30 overweight individuals who were divided into three groups.
Group 1: Participants consumed a high protein diet (35% of energy) in 3 daily meals.
Group 2: Participants consumed the same high-protein diet in 6 smaller meals throughout the day.
Group 3: Participants consumed a traditional diet with 15% of energy from protein in 3 meals daily.
The participant's body weight, body fat, abdominal fat, lean body mass, and biomarkers were measured at the beginning of the study, after an initial control phase, and at the end of each of the two phases.