In this article:
Why Metabolic Health is Important
Metabolic health refers to how efficiently your body creates and uses energy from the food you eat. It plays a key role in regulating blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and body fat.
When your metabolic systems are working well, you feel more energized, it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight, and your risk of chronic disease goes down.
How Metabolic Health and Weight are Related?
While weight is not the sole indicator of health, excess body fat, especially around the midsection, can signal underlying metabolic dysfunction.
The majority of individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) carry higher levels of body fat. High amounts of body fat contribute to insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, or poor mitochondrial function.
Improving body composition, especially through fat loss, can be an important clinical goal to improve metabolic markers like blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
How Can I Test My Metabolic Health?
Metabolic health is multifaceted and cannot be assessed by weight alone. Other testing and further assessments can be done to understand your metabolic health.
Key metabolic markers to be assessed include:
- Blood Tests: Fasting glucose and insulin levels, HbA1c, and a lipid profile. Sometimes this can also include inflammatory markers and liver function tests.
- Physical Measurements: Waist circumference, BMI, and body fat percentage.
- Lifestyle Assessments: Diet, physical activity, sleep quality and stress levels.
A thorough naturopathic assessment takes into account lifestyle, stress, diet, movement patterns, and hormone health.
Are There Long Term Risks To Poor Metabolic Health?
Yes. When metabolic health is compromised and left unaddressed, it can increase the risk of several chronic conditions over time, including:
- Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
- Heart disease and high blood pressure
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Certain hormone-related cancers such as breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer
- Cognitive decline and dementia
It’s important to know that these risks aren’t limited to people who are overweight. Even individuals at a “normal” weight can have poor metabolic health when they carry excess fat tissue and not enough lean body mass.
Should I Evaluate My Metabolic Health Before Trying To Conceive?
Insulin resistance, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies can impair egg quality, disrupt ovulation, and increase the risk of complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Addressing metabolic function beforehand lays the foundation for a smoother conception journey, healthier pregnancy, and long-term wellness for both parent and child.
Optimizing metabolic health before pregnancy is one of the most powerful steps you can take to support fertility and future health, for both you and your future baby.
Metabolic Health Fertility Program
We built this Metabolic Health Fertility Program to give women the personalized, science-based support they need to balance hormones, improve body composition, and boost egg quality – and includes one-on-one coaching, group calls, and a supportive community by your side.