Hormonal
Weight loss-induced metabolic adaptation is defined as a decrease in thermogenesis greater than predicted by changes in body weight and composition, primarily driven by enhanced energy efficiency (e.g., reduced ATP synthesis oxygen need) and neuroendocrine shifts rather than just organ size reduction.
If you are losing weight and hitting a plateau, recognize that your body is likely adapting by becoming more energy-efficient (burning fewer calories for the same tasks) due to hormonal changes and reduced sympathetic tone. This is a normal survival mechanism, not a sign that your diet is failing. To overcome this, you may need to adjust your caloric deficit or increase physical activity, understanding that the rate of loss will naturally slow down.
Weight loss-induced metabolic adaptation refers to the decrease in thermogenesis to an extent greater than predicted based on the change in body weight and composition... Enhanced Energy Efficiency as an Explanation of Metabolic Adaptation. ATP synthesis at a lower oxygen need is proposed as a putative mechanism... sympathetic tone is reduced while parasympathetic tone is increased after weight loss. These neuroendocrine changes might enhance skeletal muscle contractile energy efficiency after weight loss.
Why this rating
This is a perspective/review paper discussing mechanisms and methodological definitions, citing observational and controlled trials but not presenting new primary clinical trial data.
Source
Insights about weight loss‐induced metabolic adaptation
José E. Galgani et al. · Obesity · 2016
DOI 10.1002/oby.21408
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