We may think that it’s no big deal to be overweight or to have a potbelly, but obesity affects more than just our appearance. It can also affect our physical health and lead to many health problems. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing various conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancer. That’s why it’s important to be aware of your BMI and maintain a healthy weight.
The BMI is a way of measuring your weight to your height; it’s a useful way of knowing if you’re a healthy weight for your height. How is BMI measured? Your BMI is calculated as your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. To find out your BMI, you need to know your weight and height.
Being overweight or obese can be the result of a variety of factors, including genetics, an unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise, metabolism problems etc. This article will mainly focus on metabolism.
How Does Metabolism Work?
Body Metabolism is a very complex process. It involves the process of converting food into energy. The energy is then used in all the activities of the body. The body gets its energy from this food. When we eat, food is consumed and broken down into smaller molecules. These molecules are transported through the bloodstream and broken down further in the cells. The cells obtain energy from the food in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate).
ATP is used for all the activities in the body. ATP is the source of energy for both cellular work and mechanical work. The body uses ATP to do its work. ATP is constantly being broken down into ADP (Adenosine diphosphate). The body then uses energy to build ATP back up into a usable form. This is a constant process that is happening in every cell in our body at all times. Most cells in our body have a mechanism to create ATP. The cell’s mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouses) create most of the ATP.
There are two other ways that ATP can be created. The first is ATP-PCR (Phosphocreatine), and the second is glycolysis (the breakdown of sugars). ATP-PCR is a very brief source of energy. It works very fast, but it is quickly depleted. It is not good for endurance activities. Glycolysis is used by the rest of the body’s cells, including the cells in the heart, liver, and most of the muscles. Glycolysis is good for endurance activities. It is slower but can provide ATP for a much longer time.
If you are not burning much energy each day, you will gain weight. Many people who have a slow metabolism will start to gain weight because they are not burning off enough calories.
What Can Slow Your Metabolism
There are many reasons why you could have a slow metabolism. It could be that your metabolism decreased due to age, or it could be due to your environment. These include:
1.Age- As you get older, your metabolism will naturally decrease. This is due to changes in your hormone levels.
2. Lifestyle/Lack of Exercise- When you are not moving your body, your metabolism will decrease.
3. Lack of sleep- If you are not sleeping, your metabolic rate will likely take a hit.
4. Stress may also slow down your metabolism, increasing your body weight. Stress eating is a coping mechanism.
5. Calcium levels may slow down metabolism. Low calcium levels may lead to an increased risk of weight gain, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Signs of Slow Metabolism
The signs of slow body metabolism include:
1.Tiredness- If you are tired all the time, it could be due to a slow metabolism. This is caused by a lack of the nutrients your body needs.
2. Having a slow metabolism may cause you to feel sick often. You may also find that you have a hard time sleeping at night.
3. Your skin may suffer if you have a slow metabolism. You may have acne, or you may be tired of trying to keep your acne under control.
4. High cholesterol levels- If you have high cholesterol levels, it could be due to a slow metabolism. Your body can’t produce enough of the enzymes it needs to break down the foods you eat.
5. Weight gain- If you are trying to lose weight and it’s just not happening, it could be a sign of a slow metabolism.
How to Avoid Slow Metabolism
1. Protein intake – Even in individuals with normal hormone levels, increased protein intake has been shown to improve satiety and reduce caloric intake. Protein is also critical for maintaining muscle mass.
2. Hormone balance- ensuring a hormonal balance is beneficial in avoiding slow metabolism & losing weight. Hormone imbalances slow down metabolism, so it is less efficient. Hormone imbalances can also cause food cravings and weight gain. HGH, human growth hormone comes in handy here. Although HGH is a naturally occurring hormone, it’s also available in synthetic forms to treat or supplement metabolic problems. It boosts metabolism and burns fat. It works by stimulating metabolic activity in cells to commence.
Some of the possible HGH side effects associated with excess Growth hormone include numb and tingling skin, edema, high cholesterol levels, fatigue, nerve, muscle, or joint pain etc. It is also associated with secondary benefits such as repairing body tissues, treating age-related diseases and improving skin quality.
It is important for people with HGH deficiencies in improving bone density, muscle mass and increase exercise capacity.
Incorporating resistance exercises is another approach to boosting your metabolic activity. This can be done by lifting weights and other bodyweight exercises.
3. Low-calorie intake- Taking low calories is important for elevating the body’s metabolism and increasing energy levels. You do not want to take too many calories in, making you gain weight and prone to heart diseases and other health problems.
