METABOLISM AND YOUR WEIGHT
Metabolism definition -
Metabolism is the way our bodies handle calories. They burn them for energy, or store them in the form of fat.
Metabolism
is the process by which our bodies convert food into energy. During
this biochemical process, calories - from carbohydrates, fat and
proteins combined with oxygen releases energy our bodies need to
function.
The number of calories our bodies burn daily is called our total energy expenditure.The following three factors make up out total energy expenditure:
Basic needs. Even when our bodies are at rest, they require energy for basics such as fuel for organs, breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels together with growing and repairing cells. Calories expended to cover these basic functions are our basal metabolic rate. Normally, our basal metabolic rate is the largest portion of energy use, representing two-thirds to three-quarters of the calories we use each day. The energy needs for these basic functions are fairly consistent and aren't easily changed. Food processing, digesting,transporting and storing food we consume also takes calories. This accounts for about 10%of the calories we use daily. For the most part, our body's energy requirement to process food stays relatively steady and isn't easily changed. Physical activities for example playing tennis, walking to the shops, chasing after the dog or children and any other movement accounts for the rest of calories used. We control the number of calories burned depending on how often, how long and how intense our activities are. It seems logical to think that significant weight gain or being overweight is related to a low metabolism of maybe a condition known as an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). It is infact very uncommon for excess weight to be related to a low metabolism. Also, most people who are overweight don't have an underlying condition, such as hypothyroidism.However, a medical check up can determine whether a medical condition could be the cause of weight gain. Weight gain is is to be more likely due to an energy imbalance,consuming more calories than our bodies burn. In order to lose weight we need to create an energy deficit by eating fewer calories, increasing the number of calories we burn through physical activity, or preferably both. If we were physically and functionally identical, it would be easy to determine standard energy needs. Many factors however influence calorie requirements, these include body size and composition, age and sex. In order to function properly, a bigger body mass requires more energy which means more calories than a smaller body mass. Also, muscle burns more calories than fat does. Therefore, the more muscle we have in relation to fat, the higher our basal metabolic rate. As we get older, the amount of muscle tends to decrease and fat accounts for more of our weight. Metabolism also slows down naturally with age. Together these changes reduce our calorie needs. Men usually have less body fat and more muscle than women of the same age and weight. That's why men generally have a higher basal metabolic rate and burn more calories than women. Our ability to change our basal metabolism is limited. We can however increase daily exercise and activity to build muscle tissue and burn more calories. Our metabolism influences our energy needs, but it's our food intake that primarily determines our weight. Losing weight, like any task we undertake, requires that we have dedication and motivation to succeed.
This means we need to think before we act.
The number of calories our bodies burn daily is called our total energy expenditure.The following three factors make up out total energy expenditure:
Basic needs. Even when our bodies are at rest, they require energy for basics such as fuel for organs, breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels together with growing and repairing cells. Calories expended to cover these basic functions are our basal metabolic rate. Normally, our basal metabolic rate is the largest portion of energy use, representing two-thirds to three-quarters of the calories we use each day. The energy needs for these basic functions are fairly consistent and aren't easily changed. Food processing, digesting,transporting and storing food we consume also takes calories. This accounts for about 10%of the calories we use daily. For the most part, our body's energy requirement to process food stays relatively steady and isn't easily changed. Physical activities for example playing tennis, walking to the shops, chasing after the dog or children and any other movement accounts for the rest of calories used. We control the number of calories burned depending on how often, how long and how intense our activities are. It seems logical to think that significant weight gain or being overweight is related to a low metabolism of maybe a condition known as an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). It is infact very uncommon for excess weight to be related to a low metabolism. Also, most people who are overweight don't have an underlying condition, such as hypothyroidism.However, a medical check up can determine whether a medical condition could be the cause of weight gain. Weight gain is is to be more likely due to an energy imbalance,consuming more calories than our bodies burn. In order to lose weight we need to create an energy deficit by eating fewer calories, increasing the number of calories we burn through physical activity, or preferably both. If we were physically and functionally identical, it would be easy to determine standard energy needs. Many factors however influence calorie requirements, these include body size and composition, age and sex. In order to function properly, a bigger body mass requires more energy which means more calories than a smaller body mass. Also, muscle burns more calories than fat does. Therefore, the more muscle we have in relation to fat, the higher our basal metabolic rate. As we get older, the amount of muscle tends to decrease and fat accounts for more of our weight. Metabolism also slows down naturally with age. Together these changes reduce our calorie needs. Men usually have less body fat and more muscle than women of the same age and weight. That's why men generally have a higher basal metabolic rate and burn more calories than women. Our ability to change our basal metabolism is limited. We can however increase daily exercise and activity to build muscle tissue and burn more calories. Our metabolism influences our energy needs, but it's our food intake that primarily determines our weight. Losing weight, like any task we undertake, requires that we have dedication and motivation to succeed.
This means we need to think before we act.
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