Nutrition Conference Highlights Protein Intake Sweet Spot

At a major nutrition conference, doctors, dietitians and researchers debated how much protein people need. Sports dietitian Leslie Bonci warned that “protein has taken on a life of its own,” and emphasized the need for balanced guidance. The consensus presented was a “sweet spot” of about 1.2‑1.6 g of protein per kilogram of body weight (0.6‑0.8 g per pound) for most adults, supporting muscle maintenance, weight loss, blood‑sugar control and healthy aging.

University of Arkansas professor and former strength coach David Church highlighted that more protein is not always better and suggested a “protein nudge” – adding roughly two grams of protein for every 100 calories consumed – to help those on restricted diets, medication‑induced appetite loss, or older adults meet the optimal range. Quality of protein sources was also noted as an important factor alongside quantity.