Understanding Metabolic Adaptation

Metabolic adaptation refers to a significant reduction in daily calorie expenditure that can occur as a result of dieting or weight loss. When individuals lose weight, it is expected that their energy requirements decline proportionally, but often they decrease more than anticipated, which is referred to as adaptive thermogenesis. The podcast provides clarity on the definitions surrounding this concept, explaining it as primarily changes in resting metabolic rate that surpass expectations based on body mass changes. This phenomenon highlights the need to examine the individual responses to weight loss, as variations can significantly affect long-term weight maintenance.