The Nutritional Mismatch

What was diet like in the upper palaeolithic era?

This was the time of hunter-gatherers who were large, lean, and healthy. They had lots of protein in their diet

What happened 12,000 years ago?

The agricultural revolution. This was the time of farmers who were small and lean. They had less protein and more NPE (non-protein elements) in their diet

What was diet like in the industrial revolution?

People were small and had variable body fat. Their diets consisted of more sugar

What was diet like post WW2?

People were large and long-lived but obese. Their diet consisted of a variety of foods

What has the diet transition from upper palaeolithic to post WW2 been like?

Increasing carbohydrates and reducing protein

What is the first theory as to why a changing nutritional environment is a problem?

Humans have evolved drive to consume calorie-dense foods, coupled with high availability of delicious calorie dense foods, leads to over-eating and obesity

What is the second theory as to why a changing nutritional environment is a problem?

Humans have a protein intake target, so protein dilution leads to increased eating to meet protein target

What is the protein leverage hypothesis?

• Humans will prioritise the consumption of protein over other components

• Strong regulation of protein intake cause the overconsumption of fats and carbohydrates on diets with low proportion of energy from protein and their underconsumption on diets with a high proportion of protein

How is the nutritional mismatch damaging to contemporary health?

It can be considered one of the causes of the obesity epidemic which is a large public health challenge, the causes of which are constantly being debated

Where is obesity more prevalent?

In less affluent populations as it is less expensive to consume carbs and fats vs a protein rich diet

What are the medical consequences of obesity?

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal decline, and metabolic disturbances

What are some of the causes?

• The role of protein has been largely ignored as it only comprises 15% of dietary energy

• Protein intake has remained relatively unchanged giving the impression that protein intake cannot be responsible for these problems

• There is a debate between relative roles between fat and carbohydrate consumption in increasing obesity

• Exercise levels decreased alongside these dietary changes, accelerating the health problems

• Fats and carbs are more accessible and more palatable which traps people into a suboptimal diet

• In these circumstances, maintaining the amount of protein eaten requires overconsumption of fat and cards which predisposes towards weight gain and leads to the disinhibition of gluconeogenesis

• This introduces a vicious cycle of low energy expenditure and high fat and carb consumption leading to heath consequences