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Between body weight and metabolism, a widespread
misnomer runs amok. Contrary to popular belief, being overweight
is unnecessarily correlated to a sluggish metabolism. The condition
known as hypothyroidism or an under-active thyroid gland is
not always associated with being overweight.
Quite
the opposite, excess weight is infrequently related to having
a low metabolism. Consequently, the vast majority of individuals
who are over weight are not afflicted with the condition of
an under-active thyroid gland. Nevertheless, a physician may
conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess a medical condition
could be affecting anyone’s weight gain.
Generally,
weight gain transpires when there is an imbalance of energy
or expended fuel versus the consumption of excessive calories.
Losing weight necessitates raising the number of calories burnt
via physical activity, the creation of an energy deficit by
consuming fewer calories or ideally both.
A Review
on the Body’s Caloric Requirements
Four elements
affect calorie requirements: gender, age, body size and composition.
- Gender.
In general, men have more lean muscle and less body fat than
their female counterparts do. As a result, it is the primary
reason men have a higher basal metabolic rate and are able to
expend more calories than women.
- Body
size and composition. In order of the body to function at peak
performance, a grand body mass needs more calories to operate
than a slighter body mass does. Moreover, muscle utilizes calories
faster than fat does. Consequently, more muscle is associated
with an elevated basal metabolic rate.
- Age.
With age, comes a reduction of lean muscle and fat percentages
increase. The metabolism becomes sluggish as the body ages,
naturally. In aging individuals coupled with their slowing metabolism,
the body’s caloric requirements are reduced. |
