What Is Metabolism

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in an organism to maintain life. These reactions include those that break down nutrients to release energy and those that use that energy to perform important functions such as growth and repair. The rate at which these reactions take place is known as metabolic rate, which can vary greatly between individuals. Factors that can influence metabolism include genetics, hormones, diet, and physical activity levels. Metabolism can be divided into two main categories: catabolism, which breaks down molecules to release energy, and anabolism, which uses energy to build molecules.