Can too much protein make you fat?

[jg42058p]

Can it?

[MR-FQ320]

for example: if you eat nothing but protein and ate over maintenance calories, any surplus calories, in time will be stored as fat.

[gbrice75]

We've all gotta get one thing straight:

EXCESS CALORIES CAN MAKE US FAT!!!

With that said, the short answer is yes, protein can be converted to fat. However, it's not a very efficient process and unlikely to happen, even if you're overconsuming it. Carbs are more likely to be stored as fat, and fat is most likely to be stored as fat.

IN MR-F's example above, your body would be forced to convert protein to energy (gluconeogenesis) which also is an inefficient process. So again, chances of said protein begin stored as fat would be nil.

I appreciate your thirst for knowledge. Eat a balanced diet, train hard and this is something you won't need to be concerned with.

[jg42058p]

Ok, thanks, just curious.

You always hear people talking about carbs and fats making people gain body fat, but I've never heard people talk about getting fat from too much protein... so I wondered.

[gbrice75]

Ok, thanks, just curious.

You always hear people talking about carbs and fats making people gain body fat, but I've never heard people talk about getting fat from too much protein... so I wondered.

Mainly because protein is difficult to overeat. i.e. you could EASILY overeat carbs and fat.... breads, nuts, etc. Try overeating chicken breast or tuna, lol!

[Twist]

Although the the pathways exist I do not think that protein actually gets converted to fat. I read something like this before. Carbohydrates can get converted to fat but they only do so if you eat them at an amazingly high level OR daily fat intake is less than 10% of your total intake (when eating at a normal level).