What is the Difference Between Fast and Slow Metabolism

The main difference between fast and slow metabolism is that fast metabolism helps to burn more calories at rest and during activities, whereas slow metabolism helps to burn fewer calories at rest and during activities. Furthermore, fast metabolism results in no weight gain, while slow metabolism results in weight gain. 

Fats and slow metabolism are two status of metabolism of a living organism. Generally, metabolism is the collection of biochemical reactions responsible for making and breaking down of biomolecules inside the body. During metabolism, our body expends energy through burning calories. 

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Fast Metabolism
     – Definition, Process, Importance
2. What is Slow Metabolism
     – Definition, Process, Importance
3. What are the Similarities Between Fast and Slow Metabolism
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Fast and Slow Metabolism
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms  

BMR, Calories, Fast Metabolism, Metabolism, Slow Metabolism

What is Fast Metabolism 

A fast metabolism is the type of metabolism, which burns a higher amount of calories during activities and at rest. Generally, metabolism is the chemical process, which maintains basic functions of the body, including breathing, digestion, cell division, etc. Also, the energy for these functions comes from calories in the food. 

Figure 1: Fast Metabolism

For instance, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories burnt to maintain basic metabolic functions of the body at rest. Usually, it takes around 40 to 70% of a person’s daily calorie need. However, as a higher amount of calories are burnt in the fast metabolism, it does not allow weight gaining.  

What is Slow Metabolism 

Slow metabolism is the type of metabolism, which burns a lower amount of calories during activities and at rest. Basically, the genetic makeup of a person and the environmental factors decide the rate of metabolism of a person. Generally, the consumption of the same kind of foods for a longer period of time may also slow metabolism. Apart from that, in general, our muscles burn more calories when compared to our fat tissues. However, with age, the efficiency of calorie burning by the muscle tissue slows down. Also, women have a slow metabolism, comparatively than men. They have less muscle mass but a high amount of fat. 

Figure 2: Slow Metabolism

Furthermore, one can increase his metabolic rate of the body by doing workouts and building a high muscle mass. Thereby, athletes and bodybuilders need more food than a regular person, but they do not gain their weight in an uncontrollable manner due to their fast metabolism. 

Similarities Between Fast and Slow Metabolism 

• Fast and slow metabolism are two stages of metabolism of living organisms. 
• Both expend energy through the burning of calories.  
• They determine the amount of weight gain. 
• Also, both consist of a series of anabolic and catabolic reactions occur in the body. 
• Besides, the genetic makeup of a person plays a small role in determining the type of metabolism, but the environmental factors play a key role in that.  

Difference Between Fast and Slow Metabolism 

Definition 

Fast metabolism refers to a stage of metabolism responsible for burning a higher amount of calories while slow metabolism refers to a stage of metabolism responsible for burning a lower amount of calories.

Amount of Calories Burn  

The main difference between fast and slow metabolism is the amount of calories they burn. Fast metabolism burns a higher amount of calories, while slow metabolism burns a lower amount of calories. 

Rate of BMR 

Moreover, fast metabolism has a fast BMR, while slow metabolism has a slow BMR. 

Calorie Burning During Activities 

Importantly, fast metabolism helps to burn more calories during activities, while slow metabolism helps to burn fewer calories during activities.

Features 

A person with fast metabolism may have a lot of lean muscles and relatively active thyroid level while a person with slow metabolism may have a lesser lean muscle mass and less active thyroid level. 

Weight Gain 

Fast metabolism does not allow to gain weight while slow metabolism allows weight gaining. Hence, this is another important difference between fast and slow metabolism.

Conclusion 

A fast metabolism is a type of metabolism, which burns a higher amount of calories. That means; it burns a higher amount of calories at rest and during the activities. Therefore, fast metabolism does not allow to gain weight. On the other hand, slow metabolism is the other type of metabolism, which burns a fewer amount of calories at rest and during activities. Therefore, it leads to weight gain. Hence, the main difference between fast and slow metabolism is the amount of calories burnt. 

References:

1. “Does Metabolism Matter in Weight Loss?” Harvard Health, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “1529162” By andremsantana (Pixabay License) via Pixabay
2. “2288176” aldemetal (Pixabay License) via Pixabay

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