The metabolism is the rate at which the body can burn calories when resting.
This is also called the basal metabolic rate and the body can burn 60 to 75 percent of its energy when resting.
When we begin to move the metabolism increases, and people that have more muscle than fat will burn more calories as it takes more energy to maintain this muscle.
Those people will just want more and more exercise to keep their metabolism running and will try to convince those fatter friends to go for a jog.
Some people however, have low metabolisms and a jog will seem like pure torture.
They would rather sit and watch TV or sleep.
These people are normally overweight or obese.
The slow metabolism will actually cause the body to store more fat, and will add to the high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other symptoms that are experienced by obese people.
This is also called the metabolic syndrome, Syndrome X, or the insulin resistance syndrome.
It has been noted that one in five people will suffer from this metabolic syndrome, and this can lead to severe health risks like cardiovascular disorder, kidney disease and thicker arteries.
One will simply lead to another.
People also make the mistake of dieting incorrectly which will make your metabolism even slower:

• Not eating will cause your body to store more fats in case you do not eat.
  
• Lowering your calorie intake.
  
• Too much sugar.
  
• Not doing any activity, just sitting.
  
• Thyroid problems.
  

If you have a poor metabolism and are overweight, you will be at risk of developing diabetes which is caused by insulin resistance.
Insulin is a natural hormone that assists in the transfer of sugar into energy in the cells.
If you are obese your body will resist the insulin and the hormone will just keep begin released leading to an excess which is diabetes.
You can have hypertension and dislipidemia which means that the good cholesterol in the body is slower than the bad cholesterol.
Heart disease and kidney diseases will increase.
Here are some things that will improve the functioning of your metabolism:

• Do not diet by cutting calories and starving yourself.
  Insist on a healthy, normal eating plan that will change your lifestyle and make it easier to maintain.
  Still have the foods that you want, but in moderation.
  Start slowly and work your way towards better habits.
  Swap high sugar products for ones with no sugar or gluten, and do not skip meals.
  
• Exercise - Just start slowly and you could include stretching exercise when you get out of bed in the morning.
  This will get your blood flowing and improve your metabolism.
  Drink lots of water and breathe correctly, and you will see improvements in no time.