A New Study Finds Surprising Facts about Metabolism

Metabolism is the chemical reaction in the body that helps convert food into energy. Simply put, metabolism burns calories to keep the body running. Several factors including exercise habits, diet options, and underlying health play a role in burning the calories from the body. A new study found some surprising facts about metabolism. Consuming more calories than the body burns can lead to weight gain. This also helps slow down the metabolism. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age, you need to maintain your weight with a proper diet, without slowing down metabolism. When it comes to exercise, calorie-burning depends on the intensity of your exercise. Studies have shown some exercise can burn calories even after you stop exercising. Increase your regular physical activity to increase your metabolism.

A Study Shows Found Surprising Facts about Metabolism

In this study, scientists precisely analyzed life’s metabolic lows and highs from birth to old age. These surprising facts about metabolism will leave you in awe.

Scientists were able to gather a large amount of data from 6,421 people from 29 countries and the ages ranging from 8 days old to 95 years old. They used isotopes that were placed in drinking water and then tracked through urine. Scientists collected a regular energy expenditure figure for every person. Contrary to popular belief, pound for pound, infant’s metabolic rates are the highest among all. Teenagers can burn calories faster than middle-aged people.

Anthropologist Herman Pontzer from Duke University stated that many physiological changes happen when we age. Puberty, menopause, and other phases of life are some of the physiological changes in life. Metabolic life doesn’t match with our age.Young people’s metabolisms may slow down by around 3 percent till the age of 20s. From the 20s to 50s, our metabolic rate remains stable. Scientists discovered that in the 60s, metabolism may slow down by around 0.7 percent every year. When people reach their 90s, they require 26 percent(on average) fewer calories for energy every day than middle-aged people. It happens due to less muscle mass and their cells may slow down. A 1-year-old child can burn calories about 50 percent faster compared to an adult. According to Pontzer, managing rapid increases in weight, energy use will increase during the early months. He says that something is definitely happening inside of a baby’s cells to make metabolism more efficient and active. We haven’t found out what the processes are yet.

The isotope water technique is considered the doubly labeled water method. It is an important method that scientists have used to measure all energy burned during normal daily life. This study gives a better understanding of how metabolism changes in different ways and evolves as we age. We may not understand all these changes but at least we know them clearly. These findings can be beneficial for health treatments for particular people and particular age groups. The conclusion of the study is how cells are working and changing over the lifespan in many ways. He also said we need more data like this to learn more about metabolism.