USEFUL INFORMATION
10
What is skeletal muscle?
Muscle is divided into two types, muscle in internal organs, such as the heart, and muscle attached to
bones that is used to move the body. Skeletal muscle can be increased through exercise and other
activity.
Resting metabolism reduces as we get older
Resting metabolism level peaks in the late teenage years and then gradually reduces over the years.
This leads to reductions in the body’s functions as we get older and in particular, it is one of the main
causes for muscle reduction as we get older.
Even when not being used to move parts of the body, muscles burn energy throughout the day to
generate heat for the body which is part of the resting metabolism. As the amount of muscle decreases,
so does the amount of energy burned. If people continue to eat the same amount of food as when they
are younger, then they develop “middle-age spread.”
In order to avoid this, it is important to know your resting metabolism and maintain muscles through
exercise.
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