Learn the basics of metabolism. Which of the following statements is not true about metabolism and how it affects your weight?
Ever blame your slow metabolism for that extra slice of cake? ❌ Think again!
Unravel the mysteries of metabolism: burn calories faster, shed unwanted weight, and boost your energy like a human furnace.
Learn the 5 surprising truths about metabolism (hint: one is a total myth!) and unlock the secrets to a leaner, healthier you.
What is metabolism?
Metabolism refers to the body’s processes and functions, including how it breaks down food, what fuels your body, and how it reacts to various stimuli. Metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. It can be described as a set of chemical reactions in your body’s cells, converting nutrients into energy to power your daily activities. Metabolism is also known as “energy balance” because it helps you maintain a stable weight. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns during rest. According to Women’s Health Magazine, basal metabolic rate accounts for 70% of the calories you burn daily.
Biological factors like age, gender, height, weight, and lifestyle choices are all part of the equation for our metabolism. This said, some people have a slower or faster metabolism than others. Although it’s not an exact science, and many different variables come into play when we factor in these biological factors, a few truths can be applied to most people.
The five main truths about metabolism can be summarized thus:
1. Metabolism slows as you age.
2. Smaller individuals will have a faster metabolism than larger ones.
3. Men’s metabolic rates are higher than women’s.
4. Low-intensity activity is better for your health than high-intensity activity.
5. Some foods can speed up our metabolisms.
Why is it important for weight loss?
Weight loss is often considered daunting, but it’s quite simple. When your body becomes too heavy, it starts to function slower and at a lower efficiency level. To make matters worse, an unbalanced metabolism leads to weight gain and diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For example, if you have an extremely low functioning metabolic rate, your body will gain weight more quickly than a normal metabolic rate. To maintain the weight you want, you must ensure that your metabolism remains balanced and healthy enough to keep up with your goals.
How does metabolism work?
The body is constantly working to keep your metabolism in check, especially when it comes to being able to intake food. Like any other bodily function, metabolism has five main norms necessary for a healthy system. If these five norms aren’t met, our bodies won’t be able to process food properly. This essentially means that if a particular norm isn’t met or if they go out of balance, we run the risk of experiencing negative consequences. Our bodies need certain resources to maintain their functions—for example, protein, carbohydrates, and fats all contribute to the upkeep of our metabolic processes. Our bodies will struggle and may even experience negative consequences if these resources aren’t properly set up for us to use as needed.
Your basal metabolic rate is the number of calories your body burns during rest.
You may have heard the term “metabolism” thrown around, but what does it mean? Metabolism is the body’s ability to convert food into energy. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns during rest. It accounts for 70% of the calories you burn in a day.
The BMR is higher for men than women because men have more muscle mass and tend to be taller on average. Your BMR can decrease with age, but you can increase it by exercising more, eating healthy foods, and getting enough sleep.
Your basal metabolic rate accounts for 70% of your daily calories.
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the energy you need to maintain your body’s functions. It accounts for 70% of the calories you burn daily, and it’s the same for everyone—regardless of age, gender, or weight.
The BMR can be calculated by multiplying your weight by 10 to 12 if you’re overweight and by 11 to 13 if you’re obese. For example,
- A woman who weighs 150 pounds would have a BMR of approximately 1,300 calories per day.
- A man who weighs 200 pounds would have a BMR of approximately 2,100 calories per day, and
- A woman who weighs 250 pounds would have a BMR of approximately 2,750 calories per day.
Factors that affect metabolism include age, gender, muscle mass, and genetics.
The following factors affect metabolism:
- Age. As you age, your body’s ability to process food declines. Women’s metabolisms naturally slow down during menopause, while men tend to become more sedentary in their middle years.
- Gender. Men generally have faster metabolisms than women, but women tend to store more fat overall. This is why men can often eat much larger portions than their female counterparts and still stay thin—their bodies burn calories at a higher rate than women do. In addition, testosterone levels play a role in determining how quickly or slowly a person burns calories; studies show that men who inject synthetic testosterone into their bodies will end up losing weight even if they don’t change what they eat or exercise at all!
- Genetics/ethnicity/race/ethnicity
You can increase your metabolism by eating frequently throughout the day.
You can increase your metabolism by eating frequently throughout the day. The more often you eat, the higher your metabolism will be. This is because when you don’t eat for long periods, your body will start conserving energy and slowing down its metabolic processes. Eating small meals every couple of hours helps keep blood sugar levels stable and keeps our bodies burning calories at a high rate, which speeds up our metabolism!
To keep your metabolism high:
- Eat smaller meals more frequently (every 2-3 hours).
- Ensure they’re balanced with protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fiber low in sugar (limit processed foods).
- Don’t overeat! If possible, use portion control containers like Tupperware to see how much food goes into each meal without guessing how much is enough for your body size and activity level.
Drinking water can increase the number of calories you burn in a day.
Drinking water can increase the calories you burn in a day. The reason is that your body has to work harder to process water into usable energy. Drinks with a high number of calories, like soda or juice, don’t require as much effort for your body to convert them into energy because they’re already packed full of carbohydrates and sugars.
The number of extra calories burned depends on how much water you drink and what type it is; room-temperature tap water requires more energy than cold bottled spring or mineral water (but either way, it will be better than sugary sodas). If you want to lose weight, drink plain water instead of flavored drinks like sparkling mineral mix or lemonade, which have extra sugars that will make you gain weight over time.
Metabolism includes all the chemical reactions in your body that convert food into energy.
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. It includes all the chemical reactions in your body that convert food into energy.
Your metabolism includes the breakdown of food into energy, the release of energy from food, and the use of energy. In other words, eating something gets broken down into smaller molecules that can be used for energy. When you’re active or exercising, your body uses this fuel for movement and growth—and if there’s not enough fuel (such as carbohydrates), it will turn to fat reserves instead.
Which of the following statements is not true?
Your body burns calories 24 hours a day.
It’s a common misconception that weight loss is all about burning more calories than you consume. While this is true, it’s not as simple as that.
Your body burns calories 24 hours a day. Eating and exercising increase your metabolism, or the rate at which your body burns calories. If you don’t eat enough or exercise too much, your metabolism will slow down and burn fewer calories. So how do you know how many calories you should eat?
Using a calorie calculator is the easiest way to calculate how many calories you should eat. A calorie calculator will tell you how many calories your body needs based on factors like age, height, weight, and activity level (sedentary, moderately active, or very active). The most accurate way to determine this number is by measuring your resting metabolic rate (RMR) with an indirect calorimeter. This method involves breathing through a tube while wearing a mask connected to a machine that measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production—a measure of energy expenditure during rest.
You can increase or decrease your metabolic rate.
You can increase or decrease your metabolic rate. This is how you burn calories, which fuels your body. You may be able to increase your metabolism by eating more protein and exercising often.
Your metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories—the energy that keeps you going. It’s made up of a complex system of hormones, enzymes, and other substances that control how quickly you burn calories. Your body also uses some energy just to keep basic functions running. This is known as the essential metabolic rate (EMR).
You can burn fat or carbs.
You can burn fat or carbs. In the simplest terms, your body burns calories to keep you alive. Calories come from fat and carbohydrates. When you eat food, your body breaks it down into these two energy sources.
When you eat something high in carbs, your body converts them into glucose (sugar) and stores it in your liver and muscles as glycogen. Glycogenolysis is the carbohydrate that’s easiest for your body to access when it needs quick energy. When you’re active, your body uses this stored glucose for energy, which means it’s not using fat for fuel. Once you’ve used up all your stored glycogen—usually within 24 hours—your body will use its fat stores as an alternative energy source: ketosis.
You can use diet and exercise to change your metabolic rate.
You can use diet and exercise to change your metabolic rate.
Your metabolic rate is the energy your body uses in a day. It comprises two factors: resting metabolic rate (RMR) and activity level.
The resting metabolic rate accounts for about 70% of daily calories burned. RMR is the amount of energy used by organs, tissues, and cells at rest, such as when you are sleeping or sitting at your desk at work.
The other 30% comes from physical activity—any movement that increases heart rate and breathing, including walking, running, and playing sports.
Your body switches to fat-burning after you reach a particular weight.
The best way to lose weight is to eat less and move more. Simple, right? But how do you do that?
It’s not easy. We’re surrounded by food and drinks in the office, at home, in restaurants, and even on our commutes. The average American eats about 3,600 calories a day and doesn’t burn enough to make up for it — so we gain weight.
The good news is that you can train your body to burn fat instead of storing it as you lose pounds. The trick is to lower your calorie intake while increasing exercise gradually.
Which of the following statements about metabolism is not true?
People generally have a slower metabolism than they think.
The average person’s resting metabolic rate is about 1,500 calories per day. But that number can vary widely depending on a person’s body size, muscle mass, gender, and age.
The following statement is not true: people generally have a slower metabolism.
The average person’s resting metabolic rate is about 1,500 calories per day. But that number can vary widely depending on a person’s body size, muscle mass, gender, and age.
The following statement is not true: people generally have a slower metabolism.
The average person’s resting metabolic rate is about 1,500 calories per day. But that number can vary widely depending on a person’s body size, muscle mass, gender, and age.
The energy needed for sustaining life
You probably know that nutrition is crucial to your training and performance if you’re an athlete. If you’re not an athlete, don’t worry — the same principles apply to everyone.
The food we eat provides us with energy to sustain life and support our daily activities. Calories from carbohydrates, fats, and protein provide this energy. The more active we are, the more calories we need to consume daily to maintain weight.
Many believe that your metabolism determines how many calories you burn each day, but this isn’t entirely accurate. Your metabolic rate is determined by genetics and body composition (how much muscle mass you have compared to fat).
Numerous factors influence metabolism.
Metabolism is influenced by numerous factors, including genetics, age, hormones, and diet. Genetics plays a large role in metabolism, as people with a family history of obesity or diabetes often have slower metabolisms than others. Age also affects metabolism; as people get older, their metabolisms slow down, making it more difficult to lose weight. Hormones are another factor that affects metabolism; the thyroid gland regulates how fast the body burns calories.
Younger people have a faster metabolism.
A person’s metabolism refers to how quickly the body uses energy to perform daily functions, such as breathing, digesting food, and moving around. The energy used depends on a person’s height, weight, and age. For example, a child’s metabolism is typically faster than an adult’s because children eat more often and burn more calories with physical activity such as running around and playing games.
Metabolism slows down with age, so it’s not surprising that younger people have faster metabolisms than older adults. However, other factors affect metabolism besides age, such as genetics and lifestyle choices.
Many hormones affect the rate of metabolism.
Many hormones affect the rate of metabolism. Here are some examples:
- Insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, increases your metabolic rate when you eat.
- Cortisol, a stress hormone released by your adrenal glands, can increase your metabolic rate when you’re under duress.
- Growth hormone is released by your pituitary gland and helps repair and rebuild muscle tissue following exercise or injury—and it also speeds up the conversion of food into energy molecules (known as ATP).
- Testosterone is another sex hormone that increases muscle mass, so it might be useful for building lean muscle mass if you’re lifting heavy weights to build strength throughout the day.
- Thyroid hormones help regulate metabolism by increasing thermogenesis in cells throughout the body—in other words. This important hormone helps us burn calories faster!
Metabolism is what keeps you alive.
You probably know that your metabolism is the energy your body burns to keep itself alive. But did you know there’s also a complex network of reactions in every cell and every organ? Your metabolism helps maintain your body temperature, builds and breaks down molecules, produces hormones, and more.
Metabolism is a process that takes place in all living cells. It’s what keeps you alive! It converts food into energy—so if you eat more than you use up (which most people do), your body stores that extra energy as fat instead of burning it for energy.
Metabolism slows down with age.
As you get older, your metabolism tends to slow down. This can happen for a couple of reasons: First, as we age, we lose muscle mass. Our bodies burn the most calories when the muscle is lost, so losing muscle means it takes less energy for our bodies to keep up their basic functions than when we were younger and leaner. Second, fat tissue tends to grow in and around vital organs in our body—especially the abdomen—which makes it harder for those organs to work properly and keeps them from processing fuel appropriately.
The body uses its fat stores as an energy source. The body converts food into energy through metabolic processes like breathing, digesting food (which requires extra oxygen), moving muscles, and generating heat. Your body uses carbohydrates (such as sugar) from starchy foods like bread and pasta; fats (like butter) that come from meat or dairy products; proteins such as red meat or chicken breast; alcohol; caffeine; etc.
Exercise can affect your metabolism.
Exercise can increase your metabolism, but it doesn’t work like magic.
The calories you burn during a workout are best described as “excess” or “bonus” calories—the ones you didn’t need to burn before you started exercising and the ones you’ll get back once the workout is over. In other words, if you have a resting metabolic rate of 1,600 calories per day, then 500 of those will be burned during an hour-long cardio session on an empty stomach. The other 1,100 will be stored again as body fat because they’re not being used up by anything else in your body; they’re just extra energy that would have gone unused otherwise. If this sounds familiar to anyone who’s ever stepped on a treadmill at home for 30 minutes only to eat right afterward without seeing any results except for some leg cramps, then maybe we can all agree it wasn’t worth it!
It is true that the metabolism slows down with age.
The metabolism indeed slows down with age. It’s important to understand what metabolism does and how it works in the body because metabolism converts food into energy. The brain and the hypothalamus gland control metabolism, which can affect weight gain or loss, muscle development and strength, sex drive (libido), moods and emotions—even our ability to think clearly!
Understanding how your body processes food is crucial to maximize your health potential and live longer with an active lifestyle. Once you know how your body responds in certain situations (good or bad), you can make changes accordingly so that your overall health improves over time!
Conclusion
Metabolism is a biological process essential to helping our bodies convert the food we eat into the energy we need to survive and thrive. But it can sometimes be tricky to understand, particularly if you’re new to exercise science and nutrition.
The fact that metabolism differs so widely from individual to individual isn’t the only obstacle we face when trying to lose weight. Because of this, it’s easy to give up and resign yourself to being overweight.
FAQs about which of the following statements about metabolism is not true?
References
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As a veteran fitness technology innovator and the founder of GearUpToFit.com, Alex Papaioannou stands at the intersection of health science and artificial intelligence. With over a decade of specialized experience in digital wellness solutions, he’s transforming how people approach their fitness journey through data-driven methodologies.