Can eating too little actually damage one's metabolism? Exploring the truths and fallacies of ‘metabolic damage’.

Dieting doesn’t cause metabolic damage as some claim. But weight fluctuations and chronic dieting can lead to overall body changes that create patterns in one’s system. Once those patterns are set, like a higher resting metabolic rate, weight loss is just not the simple calorie counting or energy in, energy out system that most people think of. Instead, one should consider the absorption of calories from foods, the thermic effect of eating and physical activity, among other things. A clean diet with the right understanding of nutrition can lead to better health overall.

Key Takeaways:

Fitness industry professionals often discuss if low-calorie crash diets can ultimately cause metabolic damage.
While eat less/move more is usually a good rule when it comes to weight loss, it really over-simplifies a process that is much more complex.
According to the professionals at Precision Nutrition, eating the appropriate amount of protein will increase the body’s thermic effect and one will burn more calories.

“Nobody’s body defies the laws of physics, even though it seems like that sometimes.”