Can you have your metabolism measured?

Q: People talk about fast and slow metabolisms - but can you have your metabolism measured? And what connection does the speed of your metabolism have to your weight?

People talk about fast and slow metabolisms - but can you have your metabolism measured? And what connection does the speed of your metabolism have to your weight?

A: We all require a basic number of calories every day to maintain essential bodily functions - keeping awake, breathing, digesting food. This is referred to as our basic metabolic rate and in the average person is in the region of 1,600 calories a day, about 60% of your daily requirements.

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In obese people there is no inherent absence of this metabolism. But there may be differences in how people increase their metabolism. In over-feeding studies, obese individuals do not seem to increase their energy expenditure, unlike their thin counterparts, through movements such as fidgeting, or even reading. Efficient metabolism may also be explained by greater muscle mass, which uses nearly eight times as many calories at rest, and a low-fat diet that requires more energy to digest.

So can your metabolic rate be assessed by your GP? Unfortunately not, as it requires specialist equipment. But you should not need measurements, or medication, to increase your resting calorie efficiency. Simply put down that remote and finish reading the rest of the papers. Try a press-up to build up your muscle mass and think about adding complex carbohydrates to your diet. Intense but safe exercise also helps activate your nervous system for several hours afterwards. An by all means have a little fidget or two.