Most people know metabolism affects weight management but may not understand how important metabolic function is in gaining, losing, or maintaining weight.
At his practice at Bio-X Weight Loss Center in Round Rock and Austin, Texas, Luis Wilmot Jr., MPAS, PA-C, offers comprehensive medical weight management services that support your overall health while also moving the scale toward a healthier weight.
Today, we examine the role that metabolism plays in weight management.
Your metabolism refers to the network of chemical processes your body uses to convert food into energy. You can also think of metabolism as the rate at which your body burns calories, or expends energy.
This happens every day because your body needs energy to keep you alive. Breathing, heartbeats, muscle movement, and brain function all require energy, and your metabolism works around the clock even when you’re not putting in any effort.
Everyday activities also burn calories. Whether you spend hours on your feet in a physically demanding job or lie on the beach on vacation, your metabolism keeps you fueled.
Of course, any additional exertion, such as working out at the gym or taking a long walk, also burns calories via your metabolism. Burning more calories than you take in causes your body to lose weight. That said, many other issues can affect your metabolism.
Everybody has a unique metabolic rate that genetics largely shapes; some people lose weight easily, while others struggle. But you can optimize yours to enhance your weight management goals.
Weight training is a great place to begin. Muscle tissue needs more calories to maintain than fat tissue, so the more fat you replace with muscle, the more calories you burn each day at rest.
Shifting your diet can also help you burn more calories each day, as some foods require more energy to digest than others. Increasing fiber and protein helps. Avoiding extra sugar or unhealthy fats can give you the nutrients you need without excess calories.
While metabolic function is largely a matter of genetics, circumstances can cause an abnormally slow metabolism. At Bio-X Weight Loss Center, we review your health history and lab testing to identify these issues.
One example is hypothyroidism, which develops when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce the right blend of hormones to keep your metabolism functioning at peak levels. Dehydration can also slow your metabolic rate.
Sudden changes to your diet or exercise routine can throw your metabolism into conservation mode, where your body slows your resting metabolic rate to conserve energy.
Poor sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and hormonal imbalance can all factor into a slow metabolism.
While your metabolism is certainly central to weight loss and weight management, it isn’t the only thing to consider. Numerous factors can influence how your body converts food into energy.
That’s why working with a skilled medical professional is crucial when you’re trying to lose significant weight and maintain those results over time.
The team at Bio-X Weight Loss Center takes a multifaceted approach to medically supervised weight loss, including assessing for conditions that can impact your metabolism. If you’re ready to start on a new path toward a healthy weight, reach out online or by phone today.
