Metabolism: Myths and facts (original) (raw)

Metabolism refers to biochemical processes that occur within any living organism – including humans – to maintain life. There are various myths and facts about a person’s metabolism.

These biochemical processes allow people to grow, reproduce, repair damage, and respond to their environment.

It is a common belief that slim people have a higher metabolism and overweight people have a slower metabolism. In fact, this is very rarely the case.

This article will discuss the facts behind metabolism, what it is, what it does, and how it is influenced.

Despite what promoters of certain brands of “health” foods say, there is little people can do to significantly change their resting metabolic rate.

Long-term strategies, such as increasing muscle mass, may eventually have an effect.

However, determining a body’s energy needs, then adapting lifestyle accordingly, will have a quicker effect on altering body weight.

Most people use the term “metabolism” incorrectly for either anabolism or catabolism:

Anabolism is the building up of things – a succession of chemical reactions that builds molecules from smaller components; anabolic processes usually require energy.

Catabolism is the breaking down of things – a series of chemical reactions that break down complex molecules into smaller units; catabolic processes usually release energy.

Anabolism

Anabolism allows the body to grow new cells and maintain all the tissues. Anabolic reactions in the body use simple chemicals and molecules to manufacture many finished products. Examples include the growth and mineralization of bone and increases in muscle mass.

Classic anabolic hormones include:

• Growth hormone – a hormone made by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth.
• Insulin – a hormone made by the pancreas. It regulates the level of sugar glucose in the blood. Cells cannot utilize glucose without insulin.
• Testosterone – causes the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deeper voice and facial hair. It also strengthens muscles and bone.
• Estrogen – involved in strengthening bone mass, as well as developing female characteristics, such as breasts.

Catabolism

Catabolism breaks things down and releases energy; it uses larger compounds to create smaller compounds, releasing energy in the process. Catabolism provides the energy our bodies need for physical activity, from cellular processes to body movements.

Catabolic reactions in the cells break down polymers (long chains of molecules) into their monomers (single units). For example:

• Polysaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides – for instance, starch is broken down into glucose.
• Nucleic acids are broken down into nucleotides – nucleic acids, such as those that make up DNA, are broken down to purines, pyrimidines, and pentose sugars. These are involved in the body’s energy supply.
• Proteins are broken down into amino acids – in some circumstances, protein is broken down into amino acids to make glucose.

When we eat, our body breaks down nutrients – this releases energy, which is stored in molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the body. ATP is considered to be “the energy currency of life.”

The energy stored in ATP is the fuel for anabolic reactions. Catabolism creates the energy that anabolism consumes for synthesizing hormones, enzymes, sugars, and other substances for cell growth, reproduction, and tissue repair.

Body weight is a result of catabolism minus anabolism – the amount of energy we release into our bodies (catabolism) minus the amount of energy our bodies use up (anabolism).

The excess energy is stored either as fat or glycogen in the muscles and liver. Glycogen is the main storage form of glucose in the body.

Although becoming overweight is a result of the body storing excess energy as fat, sometimes, hormonal problems or an underlying medical condition may affect metabolism.

If someone is very overweight or obese, it may be advisable to have a medical evaluation to determine whether a medical condition is affecting body weight.

How to calculate body weight using BMI (body mass index)

BMI is an evidenced-based way to calculate ideal body weight ranges for age and height. To calculate BMI the CDC provide an Adult BMI Calculator.

There are numerous ways to determine individual calorie requirements, including the following:

Body size and composition

A larger body mass requires more calories. People with more muscle in relation to fat will require more calories than individuals who weigh the same but have less muscle in relation to fat.

Therefore, people with a higher muscle-fat ratio have a higher basal metabolic rate than people with a lower muscle-fat ratio, if their weight is the same.

Age

As people age, several factors emerge that result in a lower calorie requirement. Muscle mass drops, resulting in a higher fat-muscle ratio. Also, the following age-related factors reduce a person’s calorie requirement:

• Hormones – men produce less testosterone and women produce less estrogen with age – both hormones are involved in anabolic processes that consume energy.
• Menopause – as women approach menopause, there is a drop in hormones that normally promote energy use. Many women find it harder to lose weight during this time.
• Physical activity – older adults tend to be less physically active than when they were younger.
• Sex – men have a higher metabolic rate than women because their muscle-to-fat ratio is higher. This means that an average man will burn more calories than an average woman of the same age and weight.

After determining calorie requirements and confirming that there is no underlying condition contributing to weight gain, focusing on three crucial factors is the best approach; these are:

Getting enough sleep

Lack of sleep can contribute to a disturbance in neuroendocrine control of appetite. This may lead to overeating, altered insulin resistance, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes – all of which can lead to weight gain.

Several studies have shown that sleep deprivation damages the body’s ability to regulate eating by lowering levels of leptin, the hormone that tells the body when it is full.

Getting enough exercise

A 6-month trial carried out by researchers from Duke University Medical Center studied the impact of exercise on 53 participants who led a sedentary lifestyle.

The trial measured the impact of four levels of physical activity: the equivalents of 12 miles of walking per week, 12 miles of jogging per week, 20 miles of jogging per week, and inactivity.

Significant benefits were noted in the exercise groups. Importantly, only a moderate amount of exercise was needed to show benefit.

Improving diet and nutrition

The best way to improve diet and nutrition is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Managing the number of calories consumed each day is an important factor in weight control, especially if attempting to lose weight.

However, severe calorie restriction has been shown to be ineffective for long-term success. A severe drop in calories may trigger the body to alter its metabolism so that much less energy is burned, while at the same time storing any energy it can find. Very low-calorie diets commonly undermine motivation, resulting in overeating when the diet is abandoned.

Unless the very low-calorie diet is being supervised by a well-qualified dietitian, nutritionist, or doctor, there is a significant risk of malnutrition, which is not only detrimental to health, but may also affect metabolism in a way that makes it more difficult to achieve weight loss.