what age does metabolism slow down

Metabolism is the process that turns food into energy, so your body can work properly. As you get older, your metabolism slows down. Loss of muscle mass, less physical activity, and genetics play a role in your metabolism rate. Men typically have a faster metabolism because they have more muscle mass, heavier bones, and less body fat. According to recent studies, metabolism peaks around age 1, when babies burn calories 50 percent faster than adults, and then gradually declines roughly 3 percent a year until around age 20. From there, metabolism plateaus until about age 60, when it starts to slowly decline again, by less than 1 percent annually. However, it is important to note that every person has a different mix of factors that affect their metabolism, so it can be hard to predict the rate of metabolism slowing.