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Metabolic Friction

Meaning

Metabolic Friction is a conceptual term used to describe the cumulative physiological resistance and inefficiency that develops within the body’s energy regulation and utilization pathways, often manifesting as reduced metabolic flexibility. This state reflects a difficulty in switching efficiently between different fuel sources, such as glucose and fatty acids, or in responding appropriately to hormonal signals like insulin. It is not a formal medical diagnosis but a descriptor for the underlying cellular and biochemical drag that precedes or accompanies chronic metabolic disorders like insulin resistance and obesity. The presence of metabolic friction indicates a suboptimal state of energetic health.