Weight Maintenance

Definition

Weight maintenance refers to the ability to keep your body weight stable over time, neither gaining nor losing an excessive amount of weight. It typically involves balancing the calories consumed through food and beverages with the calories burned through physical activity and resting metabolic rate.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Weight maintenance involves a dynamic equilibrium between energy intake and energy expenditure. It requires a balanced state in which energy consumed through diet matches the energy expended through basal metabolic rate, physical activity level, and thermogenesis. Successful weight maintenance is influenced by genetic, physiological, and environmental factors.

Benefits

• Helps prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Supports optimal physical and mental health.
• Contributes to better energy levels and overall well-being.

Examples

• Balancing calorie intake and physical activity to maintain a stable weight.
• Following a consistent diet and exercise regimen that supports a healthy weight.

Additional Information

• importance: Maintaining a healthy weight is important for reducing the risk of developing numerous health issues and enhancing quality of life. It requires mindful eating habits, regular physical activity, and monitoring of energy intake and expenditure.

Related Terms

• Resting Metabolic Rate
• Caloric Balance
• Energy Expenditure
• Physical Activity Level

References

• How to Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Energy Balance and Weight Management: Lessons from the Animal Kingdom