What is a Metabolism and How Does it Affect Your Weight Loss?
What Is a Metabolism and How Does It Affect Your Weight Loss?
Metabolism is a term that is thrown around a lot. Some people think that their metabolism slows down when they reduce their intake of calories or is something that you are born with.
The short version of metabolism is it breaks down food (Catabolism)and uses that food to release energy and then Anabolism happens, anabolism uses that energy to build and repairs tissue.
Why Is your Metabolism so Important?
No matter what you are doing, from sitting on the couch to taking a morning walk your metabolism is in the background running. A lot like apps on your phone run on battery, your body’s metabolism is always running on the battery of food or fat in the background.
Then there is the BMR, (Basal Metabolic Rate) this number is just the number of calories your body burns just to maintain your current weight. So how long your battery will run on the calories ingested, when your body has used up those calories (energy) it goes to either the fat or the muscle to continue to run.
What Is a BMR? (Basal Metabolic Rate)
Why Is a Slow Metabolism a Problem?
If your metabolism is a sluggish, it becomes easier to gain weight – even on a modest diet. In slower metabolism there is more fatigue and cravings. People have more weight plateaus, and they are at a higher risk of insulin resistance and weight gain.
Conversely, efficient metabolism helps you use the calories more effectively, and efficient in this are means supporting fat loss. Fast metabolism burns more calories at rest and during exercise.
How Can You improve Your Metabolism?
There are some strategies that work when helping people lose weight. From proper lifestyle to supplementation, science and medicine has given us quite a few options, some of them simple:
GLP-1 Treatment
GLP-1 medications regulate appetite, improve blood sugar balance, and indirectly support a more efficient metabolism. These treatments mimic a natural hormone that signals fullness, slows how quickly food leaves your stomach, and improves how your body uses insulin.
GLP-1 medications indirectly support a slow Metabolism by promoting insulin secretion slowing gastric emptying to increase satiety, and suppressing appetite, leading to reduced food intake and improved weight management. (Müller, T. D., 2019)
Staying Hydrated
Water is essential for metabolic reactions with some studies claiming that just 17 ounces of water can increase your metabolic rate by approximately 30% , with the effect peaking around 30–40 minutes and lasting over an hour. This thermogenic response means your body burns more calories simply by staying well-hydrated. (Shemed, N.D., 2025)
The body will tell you that you need to eat or drink something and many times all you really need is more water.
Eating Enough Protein
Protein-rich diets help burn more calories and curb cravings.
Protein has a high thermic effect—your body burns up to 30% of its calories just digesting it. It also keeps you feeling full longer, which helps reduce cravings and supports better portion control.
Getting Proper Sleep
Lack of sleep can reduce your resting metabolic rate and increase hunger hormones like ghrelin peptide, & anxious hormones like cortisol, making weight loss harder.
Studies show that just a few nights of poor sleep can lower insulin sensitivity and raise cravings for high-calorie foods, leading to increased fat storage and slower metabolism. (Spiegel, K., 2004)
Phentermine Treatment
Phentermine stimulates the nervous system, directly increasing metabolism and suppressing appetite. The prescription medication helps reduce hunger and boost energy, making it easier to stick to a calorie deficit and lose weight.
While not a long-term solution, phentermine can jumpstart for weight loss when combined with healthy habits and medical guidance—especially for individuals with a slow or resistant metabolism.
Get Your Metabolism Tested at Med Aesthetics OC.
Our Tustin Medspa location uses the InBody Analysis machine to assess body composition and metabolic markers, so you can stop guessing and start customizing your weight loss strategy.
Metabolism is more than just a buzzword; it is the foundation of every successful weight loss journey. By understanding how our body uses energy, you can take control of your results through diet, supplements, and lifestyle.
To reboot your metabolism, book your consultation today at Med Aesthetics OC in Tustin. Let’s kickstart your transformation from the inside out.
Sources:
- Müller, T. D., Finan, B., Bloom, S. R., D’Alessio, D., Drucker, D. J., Flatt, P. R., Fritsche, A., Gribble, F., Grill, H. J., Habener, J. F., Holst, J. J., Langhans, W., Meier, J. J., Nauck, M. A., Perez-Tilve, D., Pocai, A., Reimann, F., Sandoval, D. A., Schwartz, T. W., Seeley, R. J., … Tschöp, M. H. (2019). Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Molecular metabolism, 30, 72–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2019.09.010
- Hall, K. D., Heymsfield, S. B., Kemnitz, J. W., Klein, S., Schoeller, D. A., & Speakman, J. R. (2012). Energy balance and its components: implications for body weight regulation. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 95(4), 989–994. https://doi.org/10.3945/aj.n.112.036350
- Shemed. (n.d.). How hydration impacts weight loss. Shemed.co.uk. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.shemed.co.uk/blog/how-hydration-impacts-weight-loss
- Spiegel, K., Tasali, E., Penev, P., & Van Cauter, E. (2004). Brief communication: Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Annals of Internal Medicine, 141(11), 846–850. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008