Advanced Protein-based Program for Effective Treatment of Appetite Regulation and Obesity

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a global epidemic, with over 2.5 billion adults being classified as overweight and 890 million of these classified as obese. Overweight and obesity are the 5th cause of mortality globally, with an estimated 2.8 million related deaths among adults. The rising prevalence of obesity in adults is leading to a rise in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, with an estimated 462 million individuals affected globally. At present, the most effective non-surgical obesity treatments offered by the National Health Service (NHS) are the subcutaneously administered GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, they may present potentially serious side effects following short-term use, and there are still uncertainties around long-term use side effects. Therefore, a dietary approach to weight loss or maintenance seems preferable. Increasing protein intake is a commonly applied nutritional approach to appetite regulation. The increase in protein intake is often achieved by supplementation, using proteins isolated from dairy, such as whey and casein. However, with more individuals following plant-based diets over recent years, the interest in plant-based protein supplements has increased. While dairy-based proteins are well-characterised, the appetite regulatory characteristics of plant-based proteins have not yet been fully elucidated. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effects of protein-enriched food items on appetite regulation compared to a standard carbohydrate-rich meal. Furthermore, this study will investigate whether there are any differences in appetite-related hormonal responses to a plant protein-containing meal replacement shake (containing rice and pea protein) or a potato protein-enriched standard carbohydrate-based meal compared to a whey protein-enriched standard carbohydrate-based meal.