Protein Intake
The macronutrient priority during medical weight loss — muscle defense and satiety per calorie, with real targets.
Protein earns its primacy twice over during weight loss: it is the raw material that lets resistance training preserve muscle while fat departs, and it is the most satiating macronutrient per calorie, with the highest thermic cost to digest. Common clinical targets run around 0.7–1 gram per pound of goal body weight daily — a genuine project when GLP-1 therapy has shrunk appetite.
Execution favors front-loading and defaults: protein first on the plate while fullness is patient, a protein-forward breakfast, and portable staples (Greek yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, shakes when whole food won't fit). Patients who treat protein as the one tracked number tend to exit treatment stronger and more satisfied than those who let suppressed appetite choose the menu.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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