Freedom-No-781 OP t1_j6hdoal wrote on January 30, 2023 at 9:42 AM

Reply to comment by ars13690 in ELI5 - When losing weight, why is it common to hear "burn more than you consume" in reference to calorie intake. if you consume" 1000 calories, how do you burn 1500? by Freedom-No-781

So if said overweight 6'5 man just stayed in bed all day, and ate 1500 calories. He'd lose weight rapidly then? Even with no exercise?

Myrrmidonna t1_j6hn9ti wrote on January 30, 2023 at 11:52 AM

He would, but his muscles would deteriorate from not being used, his metabolism would slow down and eventually his body would need much less calories, so he'd have to keep reducing the calories intake. In the end he'd become thin but very weak instead of fit, like a survivor of a long and heavy illness, and might have earned some ailments as a bonus.