What happens when caloric intake equals energy expenditure?

When caloric intake equals energy expenditure, the body is in energy balance. This state means that the number of calories consumed through food is equal to the number of calories burned through metabolic processes and physical activity. As a result, the body's weight remains stable over time, since there is no surplus or deficit of energy.

In this balance, the body's physiological mechanisms work to maintain homeostasis, ensuring that existing body tissue is neither gained nor lost. Therefore, maintaining current weight is the direct outcome of this equilibrium between caloric intake and energy expenditure.

Other scenarios mentioned, such as weight gain or loss, occur only when there is a surplus (caloric intake exceeds energy expenditure) or a deficit (caloric intake falls short of energy expenditure) in caloric consumption. Malnourishment typically results from a lack of essential nutrients rather than purely from caloric balance.