Metabolism is the process by which your body converts the food you eat into energy to carry out necessary functions. The energy you obtain from metabolism is used during breathing, muscle contraction, digestion, elimination, blood circulation and brain function. Your metabolism does have ties to weight loss, although the relationship between metabolism and losing weight is often misunderstood.
Basal Metabolic Rate
Your basal metabolic rate is the number of calories you use to carry out normal bodily functions. For the most part, the basal metabolic rate remains consistent throughout life. Each individual's basal metabolic rate is determined by age, sex and body composition. As you age, your basal metabolic rate slows down slightly to compensate for a decrease in the rate of growth. People with higher percentages of muscle and larger bodies usually have a higher basal metabolic rate than smaller people with more body fat. Women have a naturally slower basal metabolic rate than men, because women usually have more body fat than muscle. According to MayoClinic.com, your basal metabolic rate accounts for most of the calories you burn daily--approximately 60 to 75 percent. The remaining calories are burned through food processing and physical activity.
Metabolism and Weight
Many people blame a slow metabolism on weight gain or an inability to lose weight. In reality, your basal metabolic rate adjusts with your body to conserve energy or use energy as needed. Because of its adaptability, your metabolism is usually fairly good at remaining steady. There are some medical conditions, such as underactive thyroid gland and Cushing's disease, that do slow down metabolism. These medical conditions can cause a decrease in metabolism that leads to weight gain.
Increasing Basal Metabolic Rate
There are a few ways to increase your basal metabolic rate slightly and increase your weight-loss success. Keep your basal metabolic rate steady by eating regularly. Many dieters make the mistake of skipping meals, which causes the basal metabolic rate to slow down in an effort to conserve calories. The decrease in calorie burn can actually hinder weight-loss attempts. Eating regular meals ensures that your basal metabolic rate stays steady and aids in calorie burning.
You can increase your basal metabolic rate by incorporating strength-training exercises into your workout routine. Strength training, such as lifting weights, helps to build lean muscle mass, which burns body fat. The more lean muscle mass you have in your body, the higher your basal metabolic rate will be.
Considerations
While there are things you can do to help increase your metabolism, the effect is only slight. There is no miracle solution to increasing your metabolism for weight-loss purposes. The best way to achieve successful weight loss is to exercise regularly and burn more calories than you consume.
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