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Metabolic Efficiency Governor

Meaning

The Metabolic Efficiency Governor is a conceptual term referring to the complex, homeostatic regulatory system that actively controls the overall efficiency of energy expenditure and substrate utilization in response to perceived energy availability. This governor, largely controlled by the thyroid and leptin axes, can adaptively downregulate basal metabolic rate and promote fat storage when the body perceives a state of energy scarcity or chronic stress. Its primary, evolutionarily ingrained function is survival, often achieved at the expense of metabolic flexibility and optimal body composition.