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Metabolic Damage

Meaning

Metabolic damage is a clinical term describing a state of physiological dysregulation where chronic energy imbalance, often from excessive caloric restriction or prolonged intense exercise, leads to a sustained reduction in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and impaired hormonal function. This adaptive response, often termed “metabolic adaptation,” makes weight management increasingly difficult and is characterized by thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal hormone suppression. It represents a systemic failure to maintain energy homeostasis.