Caloric Deficit
Consuming less energy than you expend — the arithmetic every weight-loss method, drugs included, runs on.
A caloric deficit — intake below expenditure — is the non-negotiable accounting behind fat loss; roughly 500 daily calories under maintenance yields the classic pound a week, early water shifts aside. GLP-1 medications don't repeal the math: they make the deficit livable by muting the hunger that normally fights it.
Deficit design has a quality dimension: too aggressive sacrifices muscle, nutrition, and adherence; moderate deficits built on protein and fiber hold. On appetite-suppressing medication the practical risk even inverts — some patients drift into eating too little, inviting fatigue, hair shedding, and gallstone risk — which is why "eat enough, deliberately" becomes real clinical advice. Tracking even loosely for a few weeks calibrates intuition better than any formula.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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