Question

Does the rate of burning calories affect how you lose weight?

Answer 1

Possibly. How fast you burn them is based on your metabolism -- chemical reactions that maintain your body. If you have a slow metabolism, your genes may be to blame. Or you may not have enough lean muscle mass. People with lean, muscular bodies burn more calories than people with a higher percentage of body fat. Other things that can affect how you burn calories:

• Getting older. Your metabolism slows down about 2%-8% every decade. That may be from decreased muscle mass.
• Eating too little. It sounds strange, but the truth is, if you skip meals or follow a very low-calorie diet, it can backfire by making you burn calories more slowly.