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Thermic Effect of Feeding

Meaning

The Thermic Effect of Feeding (TEF), also scientifically known as diet-induced thermogenesis, is the obligatory, transient increase in energy expenditure above the basal metabolic rate that immediately follows the ingestion of food. This energy is specifically utilized to power the complex processes of digestion, nutrient absorption, transport, subsequent metabolism, and final storage of the consumed macronutrients. TEF constitutes a variable but significant component of total daily energy expenditure and is profoundly influenced by the macronutrient composition of the meal and the individual’s underlying metabolic health.