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Lagging Indicator

Meaning

A Lagging Indicator, in the domain of hormonal health, is a physiological or clinical measurement that reflects the consequences of biological processes that have already occurred, rather than predicting future states or immediate changes. Examples include a significant change in body composition, a diagnosed pathology, or a three-month average of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which represent the cumulative effect of past metabolic and hormonal activity. While valuable for retrospective analysis and assessing the efficacy of long-term interventions, these indicators are not suitable for real-time course correction or anticipatory clinical adjustments. They provide a final assessment of the body’s adaptive success or failure.