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| The phrase “metabolic health” has escaped the clinic and become part of everyday conversation, yet ask around and remarkably few people can pin down what it means.
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| It marks a shift away from watching the bathroom scale toward focusing on blood sugar, blood pressure, and how efficiently the body turns food into fuel. This week, health coach Michelle Steil looks at what the buzzword actually means, and how to build a little more of it.
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Let’s look into it,
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Healthline
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Written by Tim Snaith
July 23, 2026 • 3 min read |
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| Q: |
Can you explain what “metabolic health” means? |
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| A: |
Metabolic health is quickly gaining ground as a health and wellness industry staple. It refers to the body’s ability to maintain normal blood sugar, blood lipids, blood pressure, and minimal belly fat without medication.
The term shifts the focus away from obesity to the factors that drive the early symptoms of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
Most people understand metabolism as the process by which the body converts the energy in food and drink into usable energy. You may wonder why some individuals have a high metabolism, and others do not. The rate at which your body burns energy is your metabolic rate, and several factors influence metabolism, including age, hormones, body weight, and exercise. The notion that thin people have higher metabolism is a myth.
Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which a group of factors increases the risk of heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. The visible health impacts of poor metabolic health are often described as a “beer belly,” a sophomoric term that contains more than a shred of truth. Habits like overeating and alcohol consumption can lead to metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic risk factors include:
- a large waistline (for men, greater than 40 inches; for women, greater than 35 inches)
- high triglycerides
- low HDL
- high blood pressure
- high fasting blood sugar.
Improving Metabolic Wellness
If improving your metabolism feels like an enigma that remains just out of reach, take heart; there are steps you can take to improve metabolism.
You can support your metabolic health by:
- eating a balanced diet including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins, and lean meats
- minimizing the consumption of red meat, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar
- exercising for a minimum of 150 minutes a week at a moderate pace
- including strength training at least twice a week
- getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep
- managing stress
- maintaining a healthy BMI
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we’ll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Metabolism |
| The higher your metabolic rate, the more calories you burn and the easier it is to lose weight and keep it off. Here are some easy ways to supercharge your metabolism. |
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| What we’re digesting |
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