It’s common knowledge that as we grow older, our metabolism slows down. This is why many older adults tend to not have the energy to participate in vigorous activities and prefer sitting down most of the time. While metabolism concerns everybody, the concept of it can be quite challenging to grasp. As such, we’re here to provide everything you need to know about metabolism and the connection between metabolism and age.
What Exactly Is Metabolism?
So before we get into the details of how our age affects metabolism, it’s important to understand what is metabolism and how it plays a role in our body’s functioning. Essentially, metabolism is a set of chemical reactions in our bodies that allow us to function well and go about our day smoothly. As we consume food, our body cells would turn these into energy, which is what enables us to think, move, and grow day by day. In addition, it’s due to metabolism that we burn calories in order to stay fit and lose weight. The better our metabolism is, the higher amount of calories we burn during a workout.
There are four factors that influence the rate of our metabolism, namely resting metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, exercise, and non-exercise activity thermogenesis. However, there are other elements that can come into play in affecting metabolism rate, such as age, muscle mass, hormonal factors, height, and hereditary factors.
What Is the Relationship Between Metabolism and Age?
There are a number of lifestyle components that either slow down or increase our metabolism. One of them is how active we are. The less likely we are to lead an active lifestyle, the more likely our metabolism will decrease. Considering that many older adults prefer staying indoors and to not move around as much due to health or other factors, it should come as no surprise that their metabolism slows down. In fact, studies have shown that over a quarter of Americans aged 50 and above do not take a proactive approach to exercise. In order to boost your metabolism rate, you can consider performing more endurance exercises and looking for opportunities to burn calories.
As mentioned above, muscle mass also plays a part. However, losing muscle mass is inevitable as our bodies tend to lose roughly three to eight percent of muscle mass after we hit the age of 30. Over time, our muscle mass will decrease till we lose a significant portion of our resting metabolic rate. The decrease in some hormones produced in our bodies, such as estrogen and testosterone, can also reduce muscle mass. As such, to slow down the rate of muscle mass, we recommend incorporating more protein into your diet and consuming fewer calories.
Why Choose Discovery Village At Dominion?
At Discovery Village At Dominion, residents can look forward to a wide range of opportunities and resources provided to lead an active lifestyle. Under our Dimensions Health and Fitness program, our team members ensure that all residents are encouraged to head outdoors and participate in various activities and fitness programs, such as yoga, stretching classes, and aerobic exercises. All of these can help to ensure that their metabolism rate does not decrease in a rapid manner.
