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Our need for energy changes as we go through the many stages of life, from birth and infancy through puberty to old age.

Metabolism is the rate at which a human body uses energy. In this activity, you will learn about human metabolism and various factors that affect it.

A person with a high metabolism has high energy needs. These people usually are able to eat a lot of food but still not gain weight. That is because the energy from food is used by the body in one of two ways: through digestion, activity, and excretion (getting rid of wastes), or through release, usually as thermal energy. People with low metabolism have lower energy needs.

As people age, their need for energy (their metabolic needs) changes. Every stage of development and every growth spurt has its own demand for energy.

During puberty, young people require large amounts of energy. Mothers who are breast-feeding have high metabolism because they are providing nutrients both for their own bodies and that of their children.

These young children also require large amounts of energy.

Factors that Affect Metabolism

There are four factors that affect metabolism.

Age — Developing fetuses and young children have much faster metabolisms than adults.

Time of day — Metabolism is higher in the morning. It peaks around 10:00 a.m. and then slows throughout the day.

Exercise — Activity raises metabolism. A very good way to lose weight is to maintain the same food intake but increase the amount of exercise.

Level of fitness — Athletes and others who are physically fit have a high metabolism. This is because they use up large amounts of energy getting and keeping in shape.

Digging Deeper

Everyone needs certain nutrients to keep their body healthy. One way to do this is by following Canada's Food Guide, a plan that suggests how much of the four food groups (fruits and vegetables, grain products, milk and alternatives, and meat and alternatives) you should have to get all those nutrients in your body.
In addition to making healthy choices about the foods you eat, you should be sure to exercise regularly. If you eat healthy foods but do not exercise, your body is not going to get the same benefits from those good foods as it would if you were being active. Similarly, if you are active but the foods you eat are not providing you with the nutrition you need to keep your cells healthy, you will not get as much benefit from your exercise as you would if you were following the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide.

So, if you want your body to work well, eat a healthy, balanced diet that follows the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide and exercise regularly. If you can keep a balance between the energy you consume and the energy you burn, you will help keep yourself healthy.
Click below to view Canada's Food Guide and Canada's Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Canada's Food Guide

Canada's Food Guide (FNMI)

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