Non-Dairy Animal Protein Consumption Is Positively Associated with Overweight and Obesity in Israeli Adolescents

Abstract

Protein consumption apparently plays a role in weight control. This cross-sectional study examined the association of protein consumption in Israeli adolescents with overweight/obesity. 7th–12th grade students participating in a national school-based survey (2015–2016) completed self-administered questionnaires, including a food frequency questionnaire, and height and weight measurements (n = 3443, 48% males, 15.2 ± 1.6 years). WHO growth standards served to define weight status. Intakes of total protein and protein source were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses evaluated associations with overweight/obesity (BMI z-score ≥ 1), adjusting for possible covariates. Total protein intake (median (IQR)) was 62.5 (45.5, 85.7) g/d, accounting for 12.0 (10.5, 13.6) percent of daily energy. Of participants, 31.4% were overweight/obese. In multivariable models, overweight/obesity was positively associated with incremental increases of 10 g/d in total protein intake (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.12, p < 0.01), total animal protein intake (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10, p = 0.026), and non-dairy animal protein intake (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.11, p = 0.029). No associations were found with plant or dairy protein intake. These associations remained when protein intake was reported as a percentage of daily energy and when overweight and obesity were analyzed individually. High daily protein intakes, principally from non-dairy animal sources, were positively associated with overweight/obesity in adolescents. Additional studies are needed to establish causality of these findings.

Protein and fat intake impact on growth of primary school girls in Kerman, Iran

“…In model 2, we did not find a significant association between animal protein intake and WAZ, but in model 3, which further adjusted for energy intake, a significant association was observed. In a cross-sectional study, Dor et al found that high daily protein intake, mainly from non-dairy animal sources, was positively associated with overweight/obesity in adolescents 28 . Conversely, a study on adults indicated that animal protein intake was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity 29 .…”

“…The positive association between animal protein and WAZ may be attributed to the idea that protein, particularly from animal sources, could contribute to the accumulation of body fat by increasing levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (GLP-1) 28 .…”

TT Genotype of TLR4 rs1928295 Is a Risk Factor of Overweight/Obesity in Han Chinese Children Aged 7–12 Years and Can Interact with Dietary Patterns to Affect the Incidence of Central Obesity and Lipid Profile, Systolic Blood Pressure Levels

“…Protein can be divided into animal protein and plant protein, as they had different effects on obesity-related indices [30,31]. Obesity and overweight may be related to animal protein intake [32]. However, plant protein intake, especially soy protein intake was associated with lower LDL levels [33,34].…”

Energy intakes, macronutrient intakes and the percentages of energy from macronutrients with adolescent BMI: results from a 5-year cohort study in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“…Findings from the present study do support this hypothesis. However, many studies worldwide have not shown a consistent relationship between energy and macronutrient intakes or the percentage of energy from macronutrients with BMI (11,17,18,38,39) . While several studies have suggested that the macronutrient composition of the diet (protein, CHO and fat) plays an important contributing role in childhood obesity (11,12,39) , other studies have different findings (38,40) , or even an inverse relationship (17,18) .…”

“…However, many studies worldwide have not shown a consistent relationship between energy and macronutrient intakes or the percentage of energy from macronutrients with BMI (11,17,18,38,39) . While several studies have suggested that the macronutrient composition of the diet (protein, CHO and fat) plays an important contributing role in childhood obesity (11,12,39) , other studies have different findings (38,40) , or even an inverse relationship (17,18) . In this study, we found a significant association between protein intake and BMI in the univariate analysis, but it became not significant in the multivariate model.…”