Abstract
(1) Background: The favorable effects of high protein snacks on body composition and appetite status in lean and athletic populations have been illustrated previously. However, the effects of soy-enriched high protein snacks have not been investigated in women with normal-weight obesity (NWO). Consequently, we aimed at comparing the effects of six months of soy-enriched high protein snack replacement on appetite, body composition, and dietary intake in women with NWO. (2) Methods: One hundred seven (107) women with NWO [(age: 24 ± 3 yrs, BMI: 22.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2, body fat percentage (BFP): 38 ± 3.2%)] who were assigned to one of two groups; high protein snack (HP, n = 52) containing 50 g soybean or isocaloric low-protein snack (protein: 18.2 g, carbohydrate: 15 g, fat: 10 g, energy: 210 kcal) or isocaloric low protein snack (LP, n = 55) containing 3.5 servings of fruit (protein: <2 g, carbohydrate: ≈50 g, fat: <1 g, energy: ≈210 kcal) as part of their daily meals (as a snack at 10 a.m.), successfully completed the study interventions. Body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), BFP, skeletal muscle mass, dietary intake, and appetite levels were evaluated prior to and after the six-month intervention. (3) Results: Appetite (HP = −12 mm and LP = −0.6 mm), energy intake (HP = −166.2 kcal/day and LP = 91.3 kcal), carbohydrate intake (HP = −58.4 g/day and LP = 6.4 g/day), WC (HP = −4.3 cm and LP = −0.9 cm), and BFP (HP = −3.7% and LP = −0.9%) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced, while skeletal muscle mass (HP = 1.2 kg and LP = 0.3 kg) significantly increased in the HP compared to the LP group, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Six months of a soy-enriched high protein snack replacement decreased appetite and improved body composition in women with NWO. Our findings suggest that soy-enriched high protein snacks are an efficacious strategy for body composition improvement.
Highlights
Normal-weight obesity (NWO) is recognized as a specific type of obesity and characterizes individuals as having normal body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI) with an elevated fat mass (FM) ( 30%) and concurrent diminished lean mass [1]
Data are shown for the 107 participants, consisting of 52 and 55 participants in the high protein snack (HP) and low protein snack (LP) groups, respectively, that successfully completed the six-month intervention (Figure 1)
It has been previously shown that a high protein macronutrient diet favorably impacts body composition and appetite [45,46,47], the present study demonstrated that long-term soy-enriched high protein snack consumption, in the absence of other dietary modifications, offers similar benefits
Summary
Normal-weight obesity (NWO) is recognized as a specific type of obesity and characterizes individuals as having normal body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI) with an elevated fat mass (FM) ( 30%) and concurrent diminished lean mass [1]. Prior studies have evaluated the acute effects of high protein snack replacement on satiety levels of both healthy and overweight women [19,20], there are no published investigations on long-term soy-enriched high protein snack replacement on body composition, appetite, and dietary intake. In other populations, such as Asians, vegetarians, and vegans, soy provides the main source of dietary protein [21], yet little is known about its applicability to the population in the present study. We hypothesized that long-term soy-enriched high protein snack replacement would promote a primary outcome of improved skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and secondary outcome of appetite suppression
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
