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Thermodynamic analysis demonstrates the role of efficiency and energy dissipation in human metabolism, suggesting that second-law principles explain weight adaptation to fuel variability.
This article introduces the second law of thermodynamics as an integral component of the study of human energy metabolism. The concepts of efficiency and energy dissipation are unified with the current understanding of energy balance in human subjects. It is important to note that the energy utilized in biological processes constitutes only a fraction of the total energy metabolism. Measurement of this fraction relative to total energy expenditure elucidates the body's mechanisms for adapting to fuel scarcity and abundance, as exemplified by weight gain and weight loss.
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Nawfal W. Istfan (2025) studied this question.
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