Several intervention studies have reported that high-protein diets are as, if not more, effective than high-carbohydrate diets in reducing body weight and disease risk. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of a high vs. moderate protein intake (40% vs. 25%, respectively, consumed in 6 meals per day) in combination with high-intensity exercise training on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in a small group of overweight, middle-aged men (n=9) and women (n=15) over a 3-month period. The main finding was that a lifestyle intervention program consisting of moderate protein intake and high-intensity exercise training was as effective as a program with a similar training component but with a higher protein intake (40%) in improving body composition and insulin sensitivity. This suggests that the health benefits previously observed with high-protein diets can be obtained at a much more modest and manageable level of protein intake.
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