While having a fast metabolic rate is not necessarily good or bad in terms of health, making sure you take in enough calories to sustain yourself and nourish your body is important—while also striving not to take in too many calories, which can lead to an energy imbalance.
Having a high metabolism has its benefits; people with a high metabolism tend to burn calories faster than people with a low metabolism. On the other hand, having a fast metabolism can make it challenging to gain weight or maintain a healthy diet.
Signs of a fast metabolism include increased calorie burning, difficulty gaining weight, increased breathing, insomnia and frequent sweating. The term fast or slow metabolism is often used depending on the speed of a person's basal metabolic rate (BMR).
A fast metabolism burns calories at a quicker rate, which explains why some people can eat a lot and not gain extra pounds.
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) – the gland releases larger quantities of hormones than necessary and speeds the metabolism. The most common cause of this condition is Graves' disease. Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism include increased appetite, weight loss, nervousness and diarrhoea.
A fast metabolism does not necessarily lead to thinness. In fact, studies show that people with overweight/obesity often have fast metabolisms. Their bodies need more energy to keep basic body functions going.
Your doctor can prescribe a metabolism test and perform it in a medical setting. They may do a blood draw at the hospital or recommend a laboratory where your blood will be drawn. If you wish to choose your own lab, look for one that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified .
"The biggest thing people do that slows their metabolism down is eating too few calories," said Fiore. 1200 calories per day is roughly the amount you need to perform basic functions, she suggested, and when a person eats fewer than that, the metabolism slows down to conserve energy.
Genetics play a role in body types and may dictate a naturally lean body type for some people. For others, underlying medical conditions and certain medical treatments may cause weight loss or difficulty gaining weight.
Your metabolic rate peaks in your early 20s, according to Women's Health Magazine. At this age, you tend to have a higher muscle mass and have a fair amount of physical activity built into your day. As early as age 30, however, men and women begin noticing a dip in their ability to lose weight.
Pooping Frequency & Your Metabolism
Does pooping more mean you have a fast metabolism? In general, yes, the faster your metabolism, the more you poop. Those with a slower metabolism may not visit the bathroom twice a day. They may only go once a day or once every other day (or even more infrequently).
Metabolic rate remains stable all through adult life, from age 20 to 60 years old.
When you have a slower-than-normal metabolism, it creates a cascade of negative side effects, including fatigue, mood swings, food cravings, and difficulty losing weight.
Over time, studies have shown that metabolic rate (how fast we burn calories) starts to slow down by 2 to 3 percent each decade, beginning in our 20s. It becomes more noticeable between ages 40 and 60.
People with fast metabolism have higher energy expenditure per day, making it harder for them to gain weight and promote muscle growth. The general thumb rule in one's fitness goals is to consume a calorie-deficit diet if it's about losing weight and a calorie-surplus one if you want to gain weight.
The higher your metabolic rate, the more calories you burn performing these chemical processes. A fast metabolism can help with weight loss, as it means you can eat more calories while still burning fat and dropping weight. But having a slow metabolism isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Metabolic rates vary between people from birth. In other words, some people are born with a faster metabolism than others. Although genetics may contribute to these differences, scientists don't agree on the extent to which they affect metabolic rate, weight gain, and obesity ( 10 , 11 ).
There are three basic metabolism types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph – definitely words you probably don't use in your normal, day-to-day conversations. But learning the types of body you were born with will help your fitness plan in the long run.
So what does that have to do with eating more? Science says that people who eat more likely move more, and therefore burn more calories. "Research suggests that when subjects were provided too few calories, their NEAT scores dropped," says Kristin Koskinen, a registered dietitian.
A simple breathing test called a metabolic rate analysis can provide a wealth of information about how efficiently your body converts what you eat into the energy necessary to function. The breathing test takes about 10 minutes, and you can't eat, exercise, or drink caffeine for at least four hours before the test.
Most women need 1,600–2,400 daily calories to maintain their weight. Most men need 2,000–3,000 calories. Eating fewer can lead to weight loss. Reducing the number of calories you eat per day can be an effective weight loss method ( 1 ).
As your body metabolizes fat, fatty acid molecules are released into the bloodstream and travel to the heart, lungs, and muscles, which break them apart and use the energy stored in their chemical bonds. The pounds you shed are essentially the byproducts of that process.