energy deficit
More out, less in
An energy deficit occurs when the body expends more calories than it consumes, forcing it to draw on stored reserves—primarily fat—for fuel.
This is the fundamental mechanism behind weight loss: She maintained a modest energy deficit to lose weight gradually.
The term appears in nutrition, sports science, and dieting contexts.
Extended to other domains, energy deficit can describe any system where output exceeds input: The grid operated at an energy deficit during the heat wave.
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- muscle fatigueLoss of contractile power
- calorieUnit of thermal energy
- hungerNeed for nourishment
weakness · depleted · tapped out · drained · tired · sluggish · brain fog · fasting · weight loss · metabolism · starvation · burnout · running on empty · running on fumes · crash · low battery · empty tank · fumes
- deficitsshortfall, overspending, borrowing, budget gap, funding gap
- metabolismcatabolism, anabolism, metabolism, glycolysis, metabolic rate
- body statesresting state, sleep state, wakefulness, exhaustion, hunger
energy deficitcaloric surplus
Intake exceeds expenditure
overfeeding · overeating · calorie surplus · weight gain · energy storage
energy deficitsurplus
Amount exceeding requirement
abundance · excess · plenty · sufficiency · oversupply
energy, deficit, energies, energetic, energetically, energize, energized, energizing, energizer