ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the plethora of new research supporting the role of increased dietary protein intake as a first line of defense for both obesity prevention and treatment as well as optimizing body composition. Increasingly, protein is regarded and even marketed as the premier macronutrient as a functional food ingredient in the areas of weight loss and diabetes, and for good reason. The bulk of the existing evidence suggests that protein can and should be used as a functional food ingredient to optimizing weight loss, body composition, and physical performance. Increased dietary protein intakes are associated with increased satiety, particularly during negative energy balance of weight loss and long-term weight maintenance and therefore serve as an effective dietary strategy. Given the valuable contribution protein plays in satiety, thermogenesis, and body protein, this would be counterproductive to an effective weight loss program. Protein turnover balance appears to be largely regulated by protein synthesis change.
