If energy intake is consistently less than energy expenditure over time, what is the expected change in body weight?

• A. Weight increases.
• B. Weight remains unchanged.
• C. Weight decreases.
• D. Body composition becomes the same regardless of energy deficit.

Answer: (C)

Energy balance and body weight change are linked: when energy intake is consistently lower than energy expenditure, the body must compensate by using stored energy. It taps into fat stores (and can also use some lean tissue if protein or overall intake isn’t adequate), causing body weight to fall. Over time, this negative energy balance leads to a decreased body weight until intake matches expenditure or the deficit is reversed. Initial rapid losses may include water and glycogen, but the long-term trend is weight decrease. The other options don’t fit because a calorie surplus would raise weight, a balanced intake and expenditure would keep weight the same, and energy deficit does change body weight rather than keeping composition the same.