Obesity: the protein leverage hypothesis

  1. S. J. Simpson1,2,
  2. D. Raubenheimer1,3

Article first published online: 18 APR 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00178.x

Issue

Obesity Reviews

Obesity Reviews

Volume 6, Issue 2, pages 133–142, May 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Simpson, S. J. and Raubenheimer, D. (2005), Obesity: the protein leverage hypothesis. Obesity Reviews, 6: 133–142. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00178.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Zoology and University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK;

  2. 2

    School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building, A08, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;

  3. 3

    School of Biological Sciences and Psychology Department, University of Auckland, New Zealand, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

*SJ Simpson, Department of Zoology and University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK. E-mail: stephen.simpson@zoo.ox.ac.uk; D Raubenheimer, School of Biological Sciences and Psychology Department, University of Auckland, New Zealand, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: david.raubenheimer@auckland.ac.nz

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 APR 2005
  2. Article first published online: 18 APR 2005
  3. Received 15 July 2004; revised 6 November 2004; accepted 9 November 2004

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (228K)

Keywords:

  • Obesity;
  • protein;
  • the geometric framework

Summary

The obesity epidemic is among the greatest public health challenges facing the modern world. Regarding dietary causes, most emphasis has been on changing patterns of fat and carbohydrate consumption. In contrast, the role of protein has largely been ignored, because (i) it typically comprises only ∼15% of dietary energy, and (ii) protein intake has remained near constant within and across populations throughout the development of the obesity epidemic. We show that, paradoxically, these are precisely the two conditions that potentially provide protein with the leverage both to drive the obesity epidemic through its effects on food intake, and perhaps to assuage it. We formalize this hypothesis in a mathematical model. Some supporting epidemiological, experimental and animal data are presented, and predictions are made for future testing.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (228K)