Research challenges high-protein myth for most people

7 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 1

Samantha King of Queen’s University and co-author Gavin Weedon say UK adults already exceed recommended protein intake and deficiency is rare outside severe hunger, illness or frailty.
They argue muscle gains from extra protein require resistance training, while nutrition science remains imprecise and vulnerable to corporate influence, social-media amplification and anxieties about ageing, bodies and health.
The authors say protein’s rise reflects commercial history, from repurposed whey waste to a supplement market worth $24.8bn in 2025, projected to reach $45.7bn by 2035.

If most people already exceed protein needs, why does the myth of protein deficiency persist in popular culture and industry marketing?

Could the focus on protein be distracting us from more important aspects of nutrition, like reducing ultra-processed foods or eating more plants?