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.

…continued…From catabolism, chemical energy is released, helping to create the energy-moving molecule ATP.

These ATP transfer energy to the different components of the cell, allowing it to 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 in a higher muscle mass, which causes a higher BMR!

• With each 1 degree Celcius

increase in temperature, 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!

E p h ed ra M etab o lite S im ito lX E n ica l

D ie t P illsM ag ic P o tion s

Calculate your RMR! …With the Harris-Benedict Equation

• MALESRMR = 88.362 +

(4.799 * ht) + (13.397 * wt) – (5.677 * age)

• FEMALESRMR = 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)

I’ll help you out here!

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/weightloss.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.