Varying Energy Needs

Question 1

What is your metabolism?

Answer 1

You need energy to fuel the chemical reactions in the body that keep you alive - these reactions are called your metabolism.

Question 2

What is your metabolic rate?

Answer 2

The speed at which the chemical reactions in your body take place.

Question 3

Who has a higher metabolic rate?

Answer 3

Muscle needs more energy than fatty tissue, which means people with a higher proportion of muscle to fat in their bodies will have a higher metabolic rate.

Question 4

Why are bigger people likely to have a higher metabolic rate?

Answer 4

Physically bigger people are likely to have a higher metabolic rate than smaller people. The bigger you are the more energy your body needs ( because of more cells).

Question 5

Why do men have a higher metabolic rate than women?

Answer 5

Men tend to have a slightly higher rate than women - they’re slightly bigger and have a larger proportion of muscle.

Question 6

How does your metabolic rate change when exercising?

Answer 6

When you exercise, you obviously need more energy - so your metabolic rate goes up during exercise and stays high for some time after you finish.