Beyond psychological respite, what is the primary physiological purpose of a structured diet break during a prolonged fat loss phase?

Beyond psychological respite, the primary physiological purpose of a structured diet break during a prolonged fat loss phase is to counteract the negative metabolic and hormonal adaptations induced by sustained caloric restriction, thereby mitigating adaptive thermogenesis and preserving a higher metabolic rate. Prolonged energy deficit leads to adaptive thermogenesis, a reduction in the body's energy expenditure beyond what is explained by changes in body composition, as the bod....