Protein key to weight loss?
BY JULIE SEAMERTHURSDAY, JUNE 07, 2007
Scientists in Britain have reported that a key hormone in the gut could be the reason why high protein diets enhance satiety and promote weight loss.
Researchers from the University College of London found that increased consumption of protein in normal and obese humans produced a feeling of fullness, making weight loss easier to achieve.
Peptide YY (known as PYY) is a gut hormone that is produced during protein consumption and is responsible for satiety. When injected into mice over a two week period, a loss of body weight up to 20% occurred. Within one week of removing the PYY injections, the mice had regained 60% of their lost body weight. On the other hand, mice who were lacking PYY were 37% heavier than their normal counterparts, which was equivalent to a 237% increase in total body fat.
An additional experiment focused on comparing high protein versus low-fat diets. Over 4 months the high-protein diets reduced weight gain and enhanced PYY synthesis, compared to normal or low-fat diets.
These findings suggest that PYY is a physiologically relevant regulator of body weight. Further studies are needed. Still, WHO (World Health Organisation) and International Obesity Task Force statistics state that over 300 million adults are obese worldwide. When diet success rates are estimated to be poor and with weight lost most often regained within a year of dieting, the role of protein in supporting sustained weight loss, shouldn't be overlooked.
The Aussie Bodies Trim range is protein-boosted for added satiety (appetite satisfaction), so you can eat less and feel fuller longer. The range includes convenient ways of increasing your protein intake such as low-GI protein shakes and snack bars and even higher protein shakes.
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