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Energy Expenditure Maintenance

Meaning

Energy Expenditure Maintenance is the physiological and clinical objective of preserving a robust and appropriate total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), which encompasses basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, and activity-related energy expenditure, particularly during periods of caloric restriction or significant body composition change. The body’s natural tendency is to reduce energy expenditure in response to weight loss, a phenomenon known as adaptive thermogenesis, which hinders long-term maintenance. Clinical strategies for maintenance aim to counteract this metabolic slowdown to sustain a favorable energy balance and prevent weight regain.