Reviewed By Blake Gilliam, CRNP
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Metabolic health is often associated with weight, diet, or how fast someone’s metabolism works. However, the term has a more specific meaning in the context of your overall health.
Table of Contents
What Is Metabolic Health?
Metabolic health refers to how effectively the body converts food into energy and regulates how that energy is used and stored. It involves interconnected processes that influence blood sugar, insulin function, body composition, and other areas of health.
Body weight alone does not determine metabolic health. A person can have a BMI within the normal range and still develop metabolic changes, including insulin resistance.
Poor metabolic health can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome, sometimes before a chronic condition is diagnosed.
How Is Metabolic Health Measured?
Because metabolism involves several interconnected processes, there is no single test used to evaluate it. Instead, healthcare providers may look at several measurements and laboratory results together.
Common metabolic health markers include:
- Fasting blood glucose
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Triglycerides
- HDL cholesterol
- Blood pressure
- Fasting insulin, when appropriate
- Waist circumference
Depending on your symptoms and health history, additional testing may be used to evaluate thyroid function, liver health, hormones, or other areas that can affect metabolism.
What Can Affect Metabolic Health?
Metabolic health is influenced by many factors, including daily habits and changes occurring within the body. Some of these factors can be modified, while others may require closer evaluation.
Diet and Physical Activity
Diet can affect blood glucose, insulin levels, triglycerides, and body composition. Limiting added sugars, refined carbohydrates, and heavily processed foods while prioritizing protein, fiber-rich foods, vegetables, and healthy fats can promote steadier blood sugar levels.
Regular physical activity can also improve insulin sensitivity because muscle tissue uses glucose for energy. Both aerobic exercise and resistance training can contribute to metabolic health.
Sleep and Stress
Poor sleep can affect hormones involved in appetite, blood sugar regulation, and energy use. Regularly getting too little sleep may also reduce insulin sensitivity.
Chronic stress can affect cortisol levels, appetite, sleep, and blood glucose. Together, poor sleep and chronic stress may further affect metabolic function.
Hormonal Changes
Several hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol, help regulate metabolic processes.
For example, hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect insulin sensitivity, body composition, and where fat is stored. Thyroid dysfunction can also affect energy use and weight.
Genetics and Age
Genetics can influence how susceptible someone is to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, and other metabolic conditions. Family history can therefore be relevant even when lifestyle habits are generally healthy.
Age can also affect metabolic function as muscle mass, hormone levels, and body composition change over time.
Medications and Health Conditions
Certain medications and medical conditions can affect blood sugar, appetite, body weight, cholesterol, or blood pressure. These may include medications such as corticosteroids and some psychiatric medications, as well as conditions involving the thyroid, liver, or other systems involved in metabolic regulation.
This is one reason changes in metabolic markers should be evaluated in the context of your overall health and medical history.
When Should You Have Your Metabolic Health Evaluated?
An evaluation may be appropriate when metabolic markers continue to change, lifestyle adjustments are not producing the expected results, or concerns related to weight, energy, hormones, or blood sugar persist.
Madison Integrative Medicine offers several services that may address factors affecting metabolic health, including:
- Functional Medicine
- Medical Weight Loss
- Hormone Therapy
- Thyroid Management
- Chronic Disease Management
Treatment is based on each patient’s symptoms, health history, and laboratory findings.
Learn More About Your Metabolic Health
To schedule a consultation at our wellness center in Madison, AL, call (256) 325-0955 or visit us at 1230 Slaughter Rd Ste C, Madison, AL.
FAQs
Can you be thin and metabolically unhealthy?
Yes. Body weight alone does not determine metabolic health. A person at a lower body weight can still have insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, or high blood pressure.
What is the difference between metabolism and metabolic health?
Metabolism refers to the chemical processes your body uses to convert food into energy and carry out essential functions. Metabolic health refers to how well related processes such as blood sugar regulation, insulin function, fat metabolism, and blood pressure regulation are working.
Does metabolic health change with age?
Yes. Aging can affect muscle mass, hormone levels, body composition, and insulin sensitivity, which may influence how efficiently the body regulates blood sugar and uses energy.
