Frequent High-Protein Meals Enhance Fat Loss
Consuming high-protein meals six times a day for 56 days caused larger decreases in body fat and abdominal body fat than consuming meals containing moderate amounts of protein three times a day— according to a study led by Paul Arciero from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Energy intake for subjects in both groups was reduced by 25 percent during the last 28 days of the experiment. The most significant finding in the study was that lean body mass increased in the high-protein, frequent-meal group. A recent study by Phillips and co-workers from McMaster University in Canada showed that high-intensity exercise plus caloric restriction triggers substantial changes in body composition and strength, and that the changes are most significant during a high-protein diet. (Obesity 21:1357-1366, 2013; American Journal Clinical Nutrition, published online)