Using high protein meal replacement formulas can result in faster weight loss than following low fat, low calorie diets.   A six week study of 90 overweight and obese individuals found that those who received a high protein meal replacement formula lost twice as much weight and nearly twice as much fat as those that received a standard, low fat, low calorie diet.

Improvements in waist circumference in the meal replacement group were triple that of the low fat, low calorie diet group.  Muliple cardiovascular risk factors were also significantly improved.

PMID: 18319587