Define Metabolism In Regard To Weight Loss

Your body is continuously changing the food you consume into energy. No matter what you're doing throughout your day, your metabolism is always at work providing energy for your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. You need a certain amount of calories daily to fuel body functions. Your body also needs calories for other processes and for physical activities. A wholesome diet and daily exercise are essential for metabolism and overall health, as well as weight loss.

Metabolism

As your metabolism changes the food and drink you ingest into energy, calories are constantly joined with oxygen for energy distribution. You use this energy for every type of body function, from breathing to cell health. This energy needed for basic body functions doesn't usually fluctuate and accounts for approximately 60 to 75 percent of daily calories burned, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Basal Metabolic Rate

Your Basal Metabolic Rate, or BMR, is the number of calories used by your body to perform functions. This is what's called your metabolism, and your BMR is determined by your age, sex and body type, according to the Mayo Clinic. For example, those with more muscle tend to burn more calories, and fit muscles burn calories even while at rest. Since men naturally have more muscle, they burn more calories. As men and women grow older, however, both begin to lose muscle mass and burn fewer calories. The Mayo Clinic recommends that older people follow a regular weightlifting routine each week to maintain strength and boost metabolism.

Food Processing

Calories are needed to process the food you eat also --- including "digesting, absorbing, transporting and storing food," says the Mayo Clinic. This food processing is called thermogenesis, and it uses up approximately 10 percent of the calories you consume each day, according to the Mayo Clinic. Required energy for thermogenesis also doesn't fluctuate much.

Physical Activity and Exercise

You also need energy to participate in daily activities, such as working or driving a car. The more active you are the more calories you will burn. Although you cannot change the amount of energy burned for natural body processes, you can change your physical activity level, which may lead to weight loss. Moses Taylor Hospital recommends not only exercising longer but also exercising more often to boost metabolism health.

Weight Loss

Many people believe manipulating the metabolism will lead to weight loss, but the body naturally balances metabolism for what it needs on a daily basis, according to the Mayo Clinic. When you go on a fad diet and don't get enough calories and nutrients, your body automatically uses survival tactics and begins to hold on to whatever calories it has available. Dieting often pushes the body into starvation mode, which can lead to weight gain. Weight gain is not normally caused by a sluggish or slow metabolism, according to the Mayo Clinic. Gaining weight is usually caused from consuming more calories than you need for daily activities. For weight loss, you must reduce your caloric intake each day or exercise more often -- or both. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, overeating can destroy normal metabolism and lead to diseases such as diabetes. A wholesome diet is key to maintaining weight and health.