If you have a low metabolism, it might be beneficial to identify the underlying reasons so that you can make adjustments to achieve different results. Dr. Jason Fung is a kidney specialist and world leader on weight loss and obesity. He states that we have a complex and interactive hormonal system that tells our body when we are hungry and when we are not. Hormones like leptin, ghrelin, and several others are assigned the task of controlling our hunger and satisfaction.
Body chemistry plays a role in the rate of our metabolism, and quite a few factors are involved in determining what our metabolism looks like. This is why not everyone loses weight at the same pace.
Reasons for a low metabolism
Age
- As we age, our metabolism naturally slows down.
- After age 30, our resting metabolic rate starts to decrease by 1-2% a year.
Body fat increases as we age
Muscle burns energy at a higher rate than fat. So, generally speaking, the more muscle we have, the higher our metabolic rate. But that isn’t always true. For instance, someone may have a high muscle mass because their body adjusted this way as a result of carrying extra weight in the form of fat, but their metabolism is low.
Gender makes a difference in our metabolism
- Men have a lower body fat percentage and higher muscle mass than women of the same age.
- Men can lose weight faster than women.
- Men produce roughly 90% more testosterone than women.
- Testosterone is a sex hormone that helps increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass.
Hormonal Imbalances
- Everyone’s sex hormones decline with age.
- Women can lack estrogen.
- Both men and women can have decreased testosterone.
- It’s a problem if we lose muscle below our acceptable range.
- We need the balance of hormones.
Poor nutrition, low-calorie, crash diets, and skipping meals
If you aren’t eating properly by getting in a balance of proteins, vegetables, fruit and fat, you can be creating a deficit of micronutrients that affect your rate of metabolism.
Stress
- Stress triggers our cortisol hormone to rise.
- High, constant cortisol can lead to insulin resistance.
- Elevated blood sugar levels lead to weight gain and obesity.
Sleep deprivation
- Impacts carbohydrate metabolism negatively.
- Creates an increase in blood sugar levels.
- Spikes insulin levels.
- Signals your body to store any unused energy or fuel as fat.
- Reduces leptin levels.
Medication
Your metabolism can be affected by some drugs, such as antidepressants, diabetic meds, steroids, anti-thyroid agents used for hyperthyroid, and hormone therapies, as well as others. We aren’t telling you to stop taking your prescribed medications, but this can help explain some possible contributors to slow metabolism and weight loss.
Physical inactivity
- Lack of movement or inactivity means your heart rate will stay lower and you will burn less energy.
- Even walking helps metabolism.
Chronic disease
Hypothyroidism
- Plays a big role metabolically in overall energy production.
- If you aren’t producing enough thyroid hormone, it is underactive.
- If you are thyroid hormone resistant, all your bodily processes will slow down.
Diabetics
- Tend to have a lower metabolism than non-diabetics.
- Have higher blood sugar levels that fool the body into believing there is excess energy present, so the body slows metabolically in response.
Inflammation is a major initial reason for chronic conditions and for difficulty with weight loss.
Eating the right foods will help sustain your metabolism.
In conclusion, there really is no other answer than to learn how to eat clean in order to drive down inflammation, and control blood sugar and insulin spikes, than to do it as a lifestyle. It’s the only way to sustain a healthy functioning metabolism.