Calorie Deficit

Definition

A calorie deficit occurs when you consume fewer calories than your body needs to maintain its current weight, leading to weight loss.

Scientific / Technical Definition

A calorie deficit is a negative energy balance achieved by reducing caloric intake, increasing physical activity, or a combination of both, resulting in the body using fat stores for energy to compensate for the deficit, thereby causing weight loss.

Benefits

• Promotes weight loss.
• Can improve metabolic health.
• May reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to obesity.

Examples

• Consuming 1,800 calories per day while your body requires 2,200 calories.
• Engaging in daily exercise to increase calorie expenditure beyond caloric intake.

Additional Information

• knownIssues: Prolonged calorie deficits can lead to nutritional deficiencies, muscle loss, and metabolic slowdown if not monitored correctly.

Related Terms

• Caloric Intake
• Metabolism
• Energy Balance
• Weight Loss

References

• The mathematics of weight loss: Understanding energy balance
• Calorie restriction: a review of human studies