The idea that protein is uniquely satiating and helpful for weight loss goes back decades, said Hannah Cutting-Jones, a food historian at the University of Oregon. In a 1933 article published in The Times, a high-protein diet featuring lots of lean meat was billed by a doctor as satisfying and effective for weight loss. In the 1970s, some claimed that a “revolutionary” high-protein drink made from collagen helped people lose an average of 20 to 25 pounds in a month.