EPOC (Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption)

EPOC is the extra oxygen your body keeps taking in after exercise ends. Your body uses it to restore ATP and creatine phosphate, clear lactate, refill oxygen stores, and bring hormones and temperature back to baseline. The effect is biggest after high-intensity or resistance work, and it modestly raises your total energy burn. It is often called the 'afterburn'. But it is best understood as a recovery process, not a primary fat-loss mechanism.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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