After losing weight through dieting, keeping the weight off typically requires higher levels of physical activity because the body naturally reduces energy use and increases hunger, making it difficult to maintain weight loss by eating less alone.

After losing weight, people who eat more and move more may experience a lower biological urge to regain weight because their metabolism stays higher and they feel less hungry, but it is not known whether this prevents long-term weight regain.

After losing weight, obese adults who increase their physical activity and calorie intake to match energy expenditure show a slightly higher resting metabolic rate and reduced feelings of hunger compared to those who remain sedentary and eat less.

After losing weight, obese adults who maintain higher levels of physical activity and food intake have a slightly higher resting metabolic rate than those with lower activity and intake, resulting in an increase of about 79 calories burned per day at rest.

When the body processes a large amount of energy from food and physical activity, it burns more calories at rest, breaks down more fat, and reduces feelings of hunger, regardless of whether total calorie intake exceeds or falls short of expenditure.

People who burn more energy through physical activity tend to feel less hungry and have better appetite control than those who burn less energy, even when both groups consume the same number of calories.