Eating protein is essential for weight loss but new research reveals many Australians are not eating enough or getting it from the right food sources.
Instead too often the protein people are consuming is coming from processed foods such as meat pies, chicken nuggets and ice-cream, a survey of 200,000 adults found.
The latest analysis of the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score, released on Monday, found people with low-quality diets obtained eight times more of their protein from junk foods than people with high-quality diets.
These people were also three times as likely to be obese.
Foods, such as pies, burgers, pizza with processed meats, chicken nuggets, sausages, cakes, ice cream and biscuits, were the second highest contributor to protein intake for people with low diet scores, according to the analysis.
In contrast, participants of a healthy weight consumed more protein from chicken, red meat, fish, eggs, milk, cereals, nuts and yoghurt.
Junk foods only accounted for approximately three per cent of their total protein intake.
If people want to loose weight they need to ditch 'junk' protein foods, says CSIRO Principal Research Scientist Professor Manny Noakes.
"Everyone's protein needs are different and not all foods that contain protein are good for you," said Professor Noakes.
With 60 per cent of Australian adults considered either overweight or obese, the nutrition expert is also concerned most are underestimating how much protein they need to consume to loose weight.
Professor Noakes says the latest science suggests eating between 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of bodyweight is required for for optimal weight loss.
A CSIRO research review conducted early this year found eating at least 25 grams of protein at each meal helped control hunger and enhanced muscle metabolism.
"Higher protein healthy meals help to control appetite and can help to reduce the urge to indulge in junk food," Professor Noakes said.
