NEATNon-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis

NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) is the energy you spend on all movement that isn't deliberate exercise — walking, fidgeting, standing, household tasks and general daily activity.

It matters because NEAT varies enormously between people and can change a lot during dieting: the body often unconsciously reduces spontaneous movement when calories are low, blunting fat loss. It is often larger than the calories burned in the gym.

In practice, keeping daily steps up is the simplest lever for maintaining NEAT during a diet.