Did You Know? Processed Food with Low-Protein Diet Increases Overeating and Obesity

Going to watch a movie? Chips and popcorn are a must! Hungry? Why not grab a bite of the chocolate or get something from the nearest fast food stall around? But, have you ever considered what these food items are doing to you? The low protein content of these highly processed foods like soda, chips, or the fast food you consume could be the biggest reason for the rise in rates of obesity! 

This is not just a vague sentence but has been taken from research published in the journal Obesity. This study has highlighted the central role of protein in growing public health issues like obesity and its health complications. With this, a question that would pop up in everyone’s mind would be ‘How do I protect myself from the issue?’ 

Quitting processed food is not a very great solution owing to the busy life that we all live. But before exploring what can be done, one must be very well aware of what obesity is! 

“Did you know?

Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.”

What is Obesity?

Obesity is the condition when a person has excess weight, usually from fat, more than what is considered healthy for a given height! The condition of the modern age has now become a serious public health problem. Obesity is now also linked to a shorter lifespan and many other life-threatening health conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 

Do you remember how the Covid-19 pandemic affected people? The ones that were the most affected were old or very young ones with a huge number of obese youth! It proved that obesity also makes a human vulnerable to many other diseases. People who are overweight are also at similar risks but at a comparatively lesser scale. Indian population has also witnessed a rise in obesity with one in every four people being overweight. The problem requires utmost attention! For this, the new study published in Obesity can be considered a way! 

Obesity- The Protein Connection

The research finds that the protein in the first meal of the day has an influence on what people eat at other subsequent meals. People who consume energy-rich proteins in the morning have overall less energy intake throughout the day. But, people who had less protein in the first meal ate more than the other meals and it included more energy-dense processed foods, high in saturated fats, sugars, salt, or alcohol. Their intake of the suggested food categories like grains, vegetables, and fruits was also minimal. 

Protein Dilution- The regular intake of processed and fast food, which are typically a poor source of protein, decreases the amount of energy gained through the macronutrient! The effect of this on the human body is - “Protein Dilution”! Guess what these findings suggest? The fact that protein plays a very important role and is a key driver of human appetite- also the obesity epidemic! The brain lures people to eat more unhealthy food to satisfy the body’s protein requirement!

The Role You Have To Play

One needs to be well aware of their body's needs and requirements! The best that we can do to avoid consuming too much processed and fast food is - ‘Eat sufficient Protein’. Breakfast also plays a very important role! Having a good amount of protein during breakfast can keep you energized throughout the day! And if it feels difficult to monitor what you eat, why not download the Zyephr app? Get a personalized experience for all your health needs! So, go ahead and download Zyephr now!