Many people blame metabolic problems for weight struggles. But your metabolism naturally regulates itself to meet your body’s needs. It’s rarely the cause of weight gain or loss. In general, anyone who burns more calories than they take in will lose weight. Anyone who takes in more calories than they burn will gain weight. This can lead to obesity and related problems like diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
A few people have endocrine disorders that cause their metabolism to work slower. You may burn fewer calories and put on weight if you have:
- Cushing’s syndrome.
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).
Many factors can affect how your metabolism functions. These include losing muscle mass, aging, genes, and being less active.
If you want to speed up your metabolism, do not skip meals. Fuel your metabolism with fresh and vegetables, lean protein and healthy carbohydrates and fats. Exercise and build muscles. Quit smoking. Your metabolism may slow down a bit, but you will lower your risk of cancer, heart disease and other problems.