If fluid intake exceeds fluid output, what can be a potential result?

When fluid intake exceeds fluid output, one of the potential results is weight gain. This occurs because the body retains the excess fluid, which can lead to an increase in overall body weight. The retained fluids can be seen as extra weight on the scale, reflecting stored water rather than fat or muscle.

The other options present different physiological outcomes that typically do not occur as a direct result of excess fluid intake compared to output. Increased metabolism is not directly related to fluid balance; rather, metabolism is influenced more by caloric intake and activity level. Fluid retention typically refers more specifically to the body's inability to excrete fluid effectively, which may lead to problems such as edema, but it is inherently linked to the concept of weight gain as it may contribute to it. Dehydration, on the other hand, is a condition that arises when fluid output exceeds intake, leading to a deficit, rather than an excess being reported in this scenario.