What is “metabolism”?
Your body uses calories 24 hours a day; even while you are sitting on the couch and sleeping. In order for your heart to beat, your eyes to blink, and your lungs to work properly, you need an adequate amount of calories. Your brain is also burning calories while it is coordinating all these events within your body. Even when you are still, your body cells are busy reproducing, repairing, and maintaining existing cells. All of these things require energy. All of these physiological activities are what make up your metabolism.
The rate at which your body burns calories when you are comfortably resting is called your "resting metabolic rate" or RMR.
While having a slow metabolism is quite rare, the only way to know is to measure it. It is an easy test which will take under 30 minutes.
To schedule a metabolic test or for more information, please call 205.934.7053
or email eatrightuab@uab.edu
| | 150 lb Individual | 200 lb Individual |
| Activity | Calories burned |
| Walking 30 min 3.5 mph | 135 kcal | 175 kcal |
| Reading/Watching TV 30 min | 36 kcal | 48 kcal |
| Gardening 30 min | 147 kcal | 195 kcal |
| Walking leisurely/Walking dog 30 min | 120 kcal | 160 kcal |
| Brushing teeth 5 min | 14 kcal | 19 kcal |
| Housework 30 min | 100 kcal | 130 kcal |
| Mowing the lawn (w/ push mower) 30 min | 148 kcal | 198 kcal |