Our bodies do various processes that allow us to keep going. While all are crucial to our health, some are arguably more important than others. One perfect example is metabolism, the chemical process that occurs during digestion. Metabolism is how the body breaks down food, turning it into energy.
Metabolism is a range of processes that include breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into smaller components that the body can use. Beyond that, it also affects weight since energy is stored or burned depending on metabolism. As such, weight and metabolism are closely linked, so eating less food the longer you live is a natural progression. Not many people know how metabolism affects our weight, so we’ll discuss the details in this article.
The Relationship between Body Weight and Metabolism
As mentioned earlier, our metabolism’s performance is affected by our weight. However, it goes a little deeper than that because our metabolism is affected by a few factors:
Age
Our bodies naturally slow as age increases, which is normal. This is due to the number of normal chemical processes and how the body changes as we age. Unfortunately, the average age for a person to die is due to their metabolism slowing down, which is a factor in death.
Genetics
Genetics is another factor that affects the metabolism rate of a person. Some people have faster metabolisms than others, and those people are known to burn calories faster than those with slower metabolisms. This is why some people can eat a lot of food and remain thin, whereas others struggle to stay slim.
Gender
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this is the question, “Why do women burn more calories than men?” The answer is that it’s a genetic difference, not a scientifically proven fact. Besides the fact that women have a higher body fat percentage than their male counterparts, the overall metabolism rate is the same for both sexes.
Diet
The amount of food you eat can also affect your metabolism since it breaks down the food and turns it into energy. This is how a high-carb diet affects your weight: the carbohydrates are broken into glucose, which is then used for energy.
Hormones
Hormones can affect your body in various ways, and metabolism is one of them. While the hormones that affect our bodies revolve around fertility, weight gain, and blood pressure, the hormones that we’re focusing on here are insulin and leptin. Insulin is a hormone that controls glucose levels in the body, and leptin is a hormone that notifies our brain when we’re full. Both affect the amount of fat our bodies store, so it’s crucial to maintain normal levels.
The Basal Metabolic Rate
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is defined as the number of calories an individual burns daily. This is necessary to maintain the body’s essential biological functions, such as breathing and other things used to stay alive. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the BMR of an average adult female is 1,500 calories, whereas the BMR for an average adult male is 1,750 calories.
It’s also worth noting that the BMR is higher in children, teens, and athletes since their bodies are still developing and growing.
Boosting Your Metabolism
There are easy ways to boost your metabolism, such as:
Exercise
When you exercise, you burn more calories. After exercise, due to the increased energy expenditure, there’s muscle growth to consider as well. The more muscle you have on your body, the more energy you will have, which is why exercise is essential.
Proper Diet
Eating food also affects our metabolism, so eating a balanced diet is essential. Include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, but avoid processed foods, which are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is another vital factor that affects metabolism. Lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, so ensure you get at least 8 hours of rest every night.
Conclusion
Our metabolism is the key to our body’s health and overall wellbeing, yet it’s a subject that isn’t heavily discussed. The good news is that you now have a better idea of improving your metabolism. All that matters is speaking with a doctor to help you understand your metabolism better.
Melinda Silva, MD, provides top-quality services for MD weight loss in San Diego. With more than 23 years of experience, Dr. Silva can develop solutions to ensure your body stays healthy. Simply go to our website to schedule a consultation!
