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Metabolic Adaptation

Meaning

Metabolic adaptation is the collective physiological response of the body to sustained changes in energy intake or expenditure, resulting in alterations to resting metabolic rate and substrate utilization. This adaptive mechanism is often observed during periods of prolonged caloric restriction, where the body attempts to conserve energy by downregulating energy-expensive processes. The process is regulated by complex hormonal shifts, including changes in thyroid hormone, leptin, and ghrelin signaling.