I eat all the time — first breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, pre-dinner, dinner, dessert.

That’s often chalked up to a fast metabolism. But “fast metabolism” is a bit of a misnomer. There are a handful of factors that play into how quickly the body digests food and how much energy it burns while doing so.

Physical activity — both exercise and unconscious activity, like leg jiggling — affects the overall metabolic rate. So does food choice. Eating 1,000 calories of cake doesn’t kick the metabolic rate into gear the same way eating 1,000 calories of grilled chicken.

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In the new episode of “Boddities,” we dive into the science of metabolism.

Watch other “Boddities” episodes:

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