How do body composition changes affect metabolism?

Increases in muscle mass can elevate metabolic rate due to the higher energy demands associated with muscle compared to fat tissue. Muscle tissue is metabolically active and requires more calories to maintain than adipose, or fat, tissue. This means that the more muscle mass an individual has, the higher their resting metabolic rate (RMR) tends to be.

When someone engages in strength training or resistance exercises, they build muscle mass, which can lead to an increase in overall calorie expenditure throughout the day, even when not actively exercising. Additionally, greater muscle mass can enhance the body's ability to burn calories, facilitating weight management and potentially improving body composition over time.

This understanding highlights the importance of not just losing weight but focusing on the quality of the weight loss, which often involves increasing muscle mass to positively influence metabolism.