Increased Dietary Protein Promotes Fat Loss and Reduces Loss of Lean Body Mass During Weight Loss in Cats

An important goal in the management of obesity is to reduce excess body fat while minimizing the loss of lean tissue. This study evaluated whether increasing dietary protein would increase fat loss and minimize loss of lean body mass in cats during weight loss. Isocaloric diets containing approximately 35% or 45% of energy from protein were fed to achieve weight loss of 1% of body weight per week. The high-protein diet resulted in a greater loss of body fat and greater retention of lean body mass compared with the control diet.