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Increasing muscle mass through exercise increases your metabolism even when you’re not actively exercising. Lean muscle mass, which accounts for about a 5 percent difference between men and women, also affects metabolism, because muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest. Genetics play the biggest role in metabolism, but some variations are seen among certain ethnic groups.
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What Affects Our Metabolism, for Better or Worse? The most variability occurs with activity levels and can vary from 100 calories burned for a sedentary person to up to 3,000 calories or more for a training athlete. For most people, thermogenesis makes up about 10 percent of their total energy expenditure, while resting metabolic rate accounts for about 60 to 70 percent. “By just eating, we’re burning calories to turn that food into energy,” Majumdar explains.Įach one of these factors makes up a typical percentage of the total energy expenditure, but there is some variability. Metabolism consists of our resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the energy our body uses to breathe, circulate blood, and perform other basic functions activity thermogenesis, which is any type of activity or exercise and the thermal effect of food. “We rely on our metabolism to do everyday activities but also to breathe, think, digest, circulate blood, and regulate temperature,” she explains. “Your metabolism is what’s in control of your body and how it makes and burns energy from food,” says Melissa Majumdar, RD, a senior bariatric dietitian for the Brigham and Women's Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Boston and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.