Metabolism refers to the basic chemical processes within the body that keep you alive. It’s also vital to understanding weight control. During the periods of the day when you are not eating, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are broken down into their building blocks, creating energy to fuel all your body’s functions, while other processes consume these substances. Your metabolic rate is a measure of how fast your body uses that energy, or burns calories, when you’re at rest, just lying quietly and not doing anything. Also known as your resting energy expenditure (REE), this number accounts for about 70% of the calories you burn each day. On average, this comes out to about 10 calories per pound of body weight.
REE varies from person to person and changes throughout life. It is mainly influenced by several things you can’t control: your genes, your age, and your sex. Your energy metabolism slows down as you age, a natural consequence of the body’s cells wearing out and not functioning quite as efficiently. Men tend to have a slightly higher metabolic rate than women, although a woman’s will (not surprisingly) rise temporarily during pregnancy.
Source: George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D., "Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off," 2008
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