GLOSSARY

Maintenance Calories describes intake expected to maintain body energy stores and broadly stable body mass in a defined situation. Maintenance can shift with activity, body size and physiological adaptation.

For example, a training camp can increase food requirements beyond an athlete's usual home routine. Extra meals or more concentrated foods may make the plan workable. Evaluate whether energy supply supports the camp's workload and recovery instead of keeping a previous calorie target merely because it once maintained a stable body mass.

Energy requirements depend on body size and composition, activity, life stage and physiological circumstances. A maintenance estimate is a starting point for a defined situation rather than a permanent personal calorie ceiling. Training load, recovery, appetite and changes in body mass help evaluate its usefulness. Growth, illness or a change in training schedule may require reassessment. Adequate energy also needs appropriate carbohydrate, protein, fat and micronutrient provision; matching a calorie total alone does not guarantee a balanced sports diet.

Prediction equations link measured characteristics such as mass, height, age or fat-free mass to an expected resting expenditure in a reference population. Versions and required units differ, and an equation's output is not a direct metabolic test. An athlete can differ from the development sample. State the equation version and inputs, and reassess its usefulness against appropriate measurements and real-world trends. A discrepancy should prompt evaluation of both prediction and measurement conditions rather than an automatic diagnosis of metabolic damage.