How does cholesterol relate to metabolic rate?

Metabolism consists of a series of complex bio-chemical processes through which the food that we eat is transformed into energy. Energy is what the body needs to function properly. Basal metabolic rate or BMR is the amount of calories which our body needs to maintain the body, even when it is at rest.

Simply put, it is the amount of calories which our body burns at rest to maintain normal body functions like breathing, blood circulation, etc. The amount of energy released while we are resting takes care of the functioning of the vital organs like heart, lungs, brain and the rest of our nervous system.

Over and above transforming food into energy, metabolism is responsible for another vital function; it breaks down all the harmful substances which have been part of our food intake, such as drugs, alcohol, etc. Several hormones that are produced by the endocrine system control the rate at which the metabolic processes take place.

Thyroxine is such a hormone released by the thyroid gland which plays a critical role in determining how fast or how slow the rate of metabolism would be.  There are many disorders occurring in the body that has a direct co-relation with metabolism. The primary cause of all these disorders, also known as Metabolic Syndrome, is insulin resistance disorders.

Sedentary lifestyle as well as genetic factors may lead to Metabolic Syndrome, which greatly enhances the chances of developing a whole host of heart-related disorders including heart attack, stroke, etc.

There are a number of risk factors, as identified by World Health Organization (WHO), which form the basis of diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome. These include:

Abdominal/Central Obesity – Waist circumference: greater than 40 inches men, and greater than 35 inches in women or BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 30 kg per m2

Elevated Triglycerides – greater than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol per L)

Low HDL Cholesterol – less than 35 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L) for men, and less than 39 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) for women

High Blood Pressure – greater than 130/85 mm Hg

Fasting Blood Sugar greater than 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)

Type 2 Diabetes or Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Urinary Albumin Secretion – greater than 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)

Inflammatory State – Elevated C-reactive protein in the blood

With obesity and diabetes on the rise, it is estimated that not only children and teens are affected, but also a large section of people between 60 and 70 years of age. Obese people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and who are smokers are not just victims of high cholesterol levels but a malfunctioning metabolic rate also.

You’ll find that cholesterol and metabolic rate are very closely related if you look at the causes behind metabolic syndrome. Obesity, caused by physical inactivity combined with a diet that contains lots of carbohydrates and trans-fatty acids, have been identified as the root cause of high cholesterol as well as metabolic disorders.

It is considered that if you have three of the risk factors that are known to be part of metabolic syndrome, as mentioned above, then the more likely you will have heart disease (including heart attack, stroke or diabetes).