Metabolic Adaptation

When you lose weight, your body fights back by burning fewer calories — this is metabolic adaptation. It is a survival mechanism, not a personal failure. Medical support helps overcome it.

Metabolic adaptation is the reduction in resting energy expenditure beyond what is predicted from changes in body composition. It can account for 100-500 kcal/day reduction in energy requirements after significant weight loss.

This explains why weight loss plateaus and why maintenance is difficult. GLP-1 agonists and other medical interventions help overcome metabolic adaptation.