Eric Topol questions protein craze, cites risks of excessive intake

Eric Topol used a New York Times podcast discussion as a springboard to take aim at the protein boom, arguing that the industry’s favorite message, that more protein is harmless for most people, does not match the evidence. In a Substack post published Aug. 31, 2025, Topol said the surge in protein marketing is colliding with real concerns about excessive intake, especially as high-protein foods and diets have become a fixture of the health marketplace.

Topol pointed to a 2024 survey from the International Food Information Council showing 71% of Americans wanted to increase their protein intake, up from 52% in 2022. He also said Google searches for “high protein” peaked in 2025, a sign that the craze has moved well beyond gym culture. The trend is being reinforced by social media and by high-profile voices such as Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman, while protein-heavy products keep multiplying on shelves. Topol singled out David bars, saying they were on track to sell $180 million in 2025.

The public-health counterweight to that marketing push is getting harder to ignore. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said in February 2025 that food companies had quadrupled the amount of high-protein products they sell worldwide over the prior decade. Harvard also cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing U.S. adults consume an average of 2.9 ounces of protein per day, about 20% more than recommended. That is the part of the story the protein branding rarely emphasizes: many people are already above the line before they start adding shakes, bars and fortified snacks.

The risk profile also depends on the source. Walter Willett has said animal protein is linked with higher mortality risk, while plant protein is associated with lower risk. On the cardiovascular side, a February 2024 Nature Metabolism study from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers Babak Razani and Xingyu Zhang found that protein intake above 22% of calories was tied to increased activation of immune cells involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation. The study highlighted leucine as a likely driver of that mechanism, and accompanying commentary said the finding suggests high-protein diets may raise cardiovascular risk, not just support weight loss.

Mayo Clinic has added a more everyday warning: very restrictive high-protein diets can crowd out fiber and other nutrients, leading to constipation, headache and bad breath. Taken together, the evidence cuts against the easy slogan that more protein is always better. The stronger case is for precision, not escalation: know who actually benefits, and stop treating excess as a health halo.