The Metabolism Question
Hannah E.
Elana E.
Margo P.
& Miriam R.
What is Metabolism?
• “The chemical changes in living
cells by which energy is
provided for vital processes and
activities” – Webster’s
• Simply put, it is the process of
collecting energy and putting it to
use!
The 4 Functions…of Metabolism
• 1: Get chemical energy from either
molecules or sunlight (in the case of
plants)
• 2: Convert nutrients into “building
blocks” for cell material
• 3: Create proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
from these “building blocks”
• 4: Form molecules for specific jobs
within the cell.
Scientifically…
• During CATABOLISM, cells
break down complex molecules
for energy
• During ANABOLISM, cells use
energy to construct molecules
and do other biological
functions.
From …continued…
catabolism,
chemical
energy is These ATP
released, transfer
helping to energy to the
create the different
energy- components
moving of the cell,
molecule allowing it to
ATP. maintain its
function.
What factors affect my
metabolism?
• 1. Gender
• 2. Body Condition
• 3. Body Temperature
• 4. Pregnancy
• 5. Cigarette Smoking
• 6. Under-nutrition
• 7. Environmental temperature
• 8. Sleep
• 9. Age
GENDER
• Women carry more fat on their
bodies, so their basal (resting)
metabolism rate, or BMR, is 5%
lower than men’s.
BODY CONDITION &
TEMPERATURE
• Certain
occupations or
lifestyles result • With each 1
in a higher degree Celcius
muscle mass, increase in
which causes a temperature,
higher BMR! you get a 7%
increase in BMR.
PREGNANCY &
CIGARETTES
• Pregnancy raises BMR by 20%
• Cigarette smoking raises it by
10% (but toxic effects cancel
out any benefits!)
•DON’T
SMOKE
Beep Beep! Health mobile!
UNDER-NUTRICION &
ENVIRONMENTAL
TEMPERATURE
• As a body’s defense against
starvation, to preserve Calories,
BMR is lowered by 20%.
• The lowest BMR are found at 78
degrees Fahrenheit.
SLEEP & AGE
• Sleep decreases BMR.
• From birth to 2 years, BMR
increases, then decreases as
you get older (except for
puberty).
What are some diseases of
the metabolic system?
• 1. Metabolic Syndrome!
• 2. Maple Syrup Urine Disease!
• 3. Pompe Disease!
• 4. Niemann-Pick Disease!
• 5. Urea Cycle Disorders!
• 6. Hypoglycemia!
• 7. Galactosemia!
Metabolic Syndrome
• People affected by Metabolic
Syndrome have several metabolic
disorders at the same time, such as
obesity, high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol. It affects 1/5 of
overweight people.
• Also known as “insulin resistance
syndrome,” this serious condition
leads to hardening of the arteries and
an increased risk of cardiovascular
and kidney disease.
Maple Syrup Urine
Disease
• This is a genetic disease, which
causes nervous system
problems and urine that may
smell sweet, like maple syrup.
• That’s really gross.
• MSUD is the result of un-
metabolized amino acids.
Pompe Disease
• This is another genetic metabolic
disorder, caused by a lack of the
enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which is
responsible for breaking up the
sugar used for energy.
• It causes muscle weakness
throughout the body and liver.
• Pompe disease is estimated to occur
once in 40,000 births.
Niemann-Pick Disease
• Large amountz of a phatty
substance accumulate in the
liver, spleen, lungs, bone
marrow, or brain.
Fatty
substance!
Urea Cycle Disease
• This disease results in too much
ammonia in the bloodstream.
• It can cause behavioral
disorders, mental retardation,
coma, or even death.
Hypoglycemia
• Also known as low blood sugar.
• The body cannot provide
enough energy for its daily
activities.
• It is sometimes an effect of a
diabetes treatment.
Galactosemia
• This is characterized by either a
partial or complete loss of the
enzyme that breaks down the
carbohydrate known as
galactose.
Metabolism Product
Claims...
• Recently scientists have thought that by
adding hormones to the pituitary gland, which
controls metabolism, they would successfully
be able to increase metabolism and help
people to lose weight.
• While some of these hormone replacement
therapies (HRT) have been guaranteed to work,
recent studies have proved then when two
different groups, one given a placebo, and the
other the hormone replacement, there was
little change in either group.
...it’s all in your head
• The pituitary gland is a small organ
(about the size of a pea) which is
attached to the underside of the brain.
• It releases many different hormones
which regulate metabolism and
influence virtually every cell in the body.
Hormones
•TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is
made in the anterior pituitary gland and is
responsible for stimulating the release of
thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland.
•Thyroid hormone is necessary for
maintaining normal body metabolism.
Scientists have yet to find any product that actually helps your metabolism,
although there are so many products with metabolism claims...
Don’t listen to these
product claims!
Diet Pills
Magic Potions
Ephedra Metabolite Simitol
XEnical
Calculate your RMR! …With
the Harris-Benedict Equation
• MALES
I’ll help
you out RMR = 88.362 + (4.799
here!
* ht) + (13.397 * wt) –
(5.677 * age)
• FEMALES
RMR = 447.593 + (3.098 * ht) +
(9.247 * wt) – (4.33 * age)
• RMR is expressed in kilocalories per
day
• Height is in cm
• Weight is in kg (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
What Can I Do to
Change my Metabolism?
• Everyone has their own
resting metabolic rate:
the rate your body burns
Calories at rest, just to maintain
your body’s regular functions.
• At RMR, most people use 60%-
75% of their daily Calories.
What Can I Do to
Change My Metabolism?
• RMR is the key to losing weight
successfully.
• When you increase your muscle
mass, you increase your
metabolic rate.
Therefore, the best way to
increase your metabolism is to
lift weights!
WEIGHT LIFTING!
• If you want to increase your
metabolism, you need to focus on
MUSCLE HYPERTROPHY, or an
increase in muscle size.
• #1: Pick up a weight
• #2:Perfrom a resistance movement
• #3: Repeat for 8-12 lifts
(Once you can do over 12 repitions with ease, increase your load by 5%-
10%)
Bibliography
• www.naturalchoice.net/articles/weig
htloss.htm
• Calculating Caloric Requirements (by
AOL search)
• Lehninger, Albert L. Biochemistry.
New York: Worth Publishers, 1975.
• Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-
Webster, 1985.