Update Consent
< Back
Slide 1 of 4

It Can Make You Gain Weight

Sure, plenty of people lose weight on a high-protein diet and it's true that the macronutrient can help you achieve your fat-loss goals. But like with anything, it's possible to go overboard.

"If you enjoy more protein than your body needs and you are exercising daily, it may be stored for energy depending on your level of activity," Adam Perlman, MD, PH, an integrative health and wellbeing expert at Duke University, told POPSUGAR. "On the other hand, excess protein may also be stored in the body as fat while the surplus of amino acids is excreted. The idea behind this is that you can't store extra amino acids or protein indefinitely, and if you consume too many calories and you don't burn them off with activity, you will gain weight."

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim