You're burning a consistent number of calories on a daily basis even before you factor in additional calories burned during work, recreational activities or exercise. Your metabolism enables your body to perform basic automatic functions such as breathing, as well as supplies energy for conscious physical activities such as running or dancing.
Processes
Metabolism refers to the process of converting calories from food into energy for immediate use or to be stored as fat cells for later. Your circulatory system transports oxygen throughout your body. Oxygen combines with food and beverage calories to release energy. Part of the energy released through metabolic processes is used to keep your body's biomechanical functions operating normally. Even when you're resting, your body metabolizes energy to carry out basic bodily functions.
Basal Metabolic Rate
Metabolism is responsible for making energy available for breathing, contracting muscles, regulating your body temperature, circulating blood and eliminating waste, as well as healthy brain and nerve function, according to MedlinePlus. Energy needs for these basal metabolic functions decrease as you age and vary by gender, fitness level and weight, based on your body's ratio of muscle to fat. The lower your body fat percentage, the more calories you burn at rest and during exercise through metabolism. Automatic bodily functions account for approximately 60 to 75 of the calories you expend in a day.
Physical Activity
Your rate of metabolism affects how many calories you burn during exercise. The more muscle tissue you have, the more calories or stored fat cells are converted to energy during physical activity. The increase in your heart rate during aerobic exercise is a response to your body's higher demand for oxygen, which it needs to convert calories to energy. Because you gain both muscle and fat when you gain weight, overweight individuals have a higher metabolism at rest and in motion than those with normal body weights.
Digestion
In addition to converting energy for automatic processes and daily activity, metabolism is responsible for thermogenesis, or the processing of consumed food. The amount of energy your body uses to digest and absorb food, as well as transport nutrients and store food, is relative to your basal metabolic rate and your activity level, according to BJC Health Care, accounting for 10 percent of your maintenance energy needs.
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