Nutrition & weight-loss glossary

All the essential terms for understanding nutrition, metabolism and weight loss. Clear, practical definitions.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Basal metabolic rate is the minimum energy your body spends at rest to keep its vital functions running.

BMI is an indicator that relates weight and height to assess a person's body size.

Body recomposition is losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time.

A calorie deficit is a situation where you consume fewer calories than you burn, leading to weight loss.

Calorie density measures the number of calories contained in a given volume or weight of food.

Cutting is a period of calorie restriction aimed at reducing body fat while preserving muscle mass.

Energy balance is the relationship between the calories you consume and the calories your body burns.

Macronutrients are the three main families of nutrients that supply energy: protein, carbs, and fat.

NEAT is the energy you burn through all your daily activities outside of structured exercise.

TDEE is your total daily energy expenditure — the total number of calories your body burns in a day.

The thermic effect of food is the energy your body spends digesting, absorbing, and metabolizing what you eat.

The yo-yo effect is the cycle of losing weight and then regaining it that follows overly restrictive diets.

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