Our body weight is determined by the amount of energy that we take in as
food and the amount of energy we expend in the activities of our day. Energy is
measured in calories. Metabolism is the sum of all chemical processes within
the body that sustain life. Your basal metabolic rate is the number of calories
(amount of energy) you need for your body to carry out necessary functions.
If
your weight remains constant, this is likely a sign that you are taking in the
same amount of calories that you burn daily. If you're slowly gaining weight
over time, it is likely that your caloric intake is greater than the number of
calories you burn through your daily activities.
"Every adult is in control
of the amount of food he or she consumes each day, so our intake of calories is
something we can control."
