By Donnie Yance
“Make food choices that honor your health and taste buds while making you feel good…It’s what you eat consistently over time that matters. Progress, not perfection, is what counts.”
– Evelyn Tribole, Intuitive Eating
This is the 2nd part of my blog about weight loss injections and the Mederi-Care approach to long term metabolic health. If you haven’t yet read part 1, please read it 1st here.
Who Is At Risk For Too Little Protein?
Even in the U.S., where protein is abundant in the food supply, it can still be challenging for some groups to get enough for their needs. One study from 2018 found that 23% of U.S. teen girls and 11% of teenage boys were consuming below the RDA for protein, which may compromise their growth and development.1 This is thought to be related to their growing independence in food choices and the high prevalence of dieting in this group.
Low protein intake is also a concern for the elderly in the U.S. The same 2018 study found that among those over 70, 19% of women and 13% of men consume less protein than the RDA.2
This is a particular concern in this age group, as loss of muscle is accelerated with aging, and that can lead to greater frailty, loss of balance, and greater risk of falls. Some researchers argue that older adults actually need more protein than recommended by the RDA in order to maintain muscle mass and function.3
Consuming more than this amount of protein provides no additional benefit, and quality of the protein is as important as the quantity. Both too little and too much protein aren’t helpful, and might actually be harmful. Current evidence indicates that it’s large amounts of animal protein (particularly from red or processed meats) that can be problematic.4
In another study, from 2015, frequent consumption of red meat in adolescence was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer later in life, whereas consuming poultry, fish, legumes, and nuts instead lowered the risk.5
Resistance exercise and protein supplementation can be particularly beneficial in older adults, who are at risk for progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength (known medically as sarcopenia), which may increase fall risk.6
Continue reading “Weight Loss Injections? Semaglutide and Liraglutide: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -Part 2”
