Metabolism is how much energy our body uses to maintain itself. Our Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories required to keep our body functioning at rest. This rate is determined by several factors: your basal metabolic rate, how much you exercise, and your muscle-to-fat ratio.
As we age, this rate drops, often leading to weight gain and muscle loss.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, hormone levels drop after age 40, which sparks an insulin rise in our bodies. Insulin is the hormone that helps our bodies process and use sugar. At the same time, our thyroid levels drop. Thyroid hormones help us burn fat, which gives our body energy. A decrease in thyroid hormones signals a decrease in our body’s ability to burn fat. Together, these changes leave us hungrier and burning fewer calories.