Part of Lesson Plan: Burn, Baby, Burn - The Role of Metabolism and Activity Level

Activity Overview / Details

This section of the lesson deals with metabolism and how it relates to the calories you consume.  Work with students by pointing out that in order for you to maintain or lose weight you must burn or use the calories (energy) you injest.  Exercise and a balanced diet will help you to do that.

Metabolism is the body's way of using the energy provided in nutrients for vital processes and activities.  Carbohydrates are the first to be used, then protein and finally fat.  If your diet is high in fat you will not burn it and it will be stored.  Excess carbohydrates and protein will also be stored, as fat, if not used.  Overindulging in foods high in carbohydrates and protein can also cause weight gain.  The minimum amount of energy you need to maintain the basic processes such as breathing, heart beat, digesting food and building and repairing tissue is call basal metabolism.  Not all bodies are alike and therefore everyone's metabolic rate is different.  Energy needs vary greatly from person to person.  About two-thirds of calories, generally speaking, are consumed for basal metabolism, but this too varies with the individual.  The remaining calories are used for physical activity.

It would make sense then that if a person had a sedentary lifestyle (no activity) the remaining one third of the calories consumed would not be used and stored as body fat.

Students should now be shown the MyPlate website and given the opportunity to personalize their own MyPlate profile.  To do this you can go to the MyPlate website.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

From here you can integrate the lesson on MyPlate.