Metabolism plays a big role in our health, it’s not just about helping your digestive system work smoothly, but the way your body breaks down the food and helps nutrients get absorbed into the body that matters. But often due to one reason or the other, your metabolism can slow down, which then causes issues with people. Many people think that the reason they may be gaining weight could be because of their poor metabolism, so how does one go about fixing this issue and how do you even know that the fault lies with your metabolism.

To understand why your metabolism may be slowing down, we must understand what role it exactly plays. Metabolism is the process your body uses to turn food into energy. It's essential for everything from breathing and digestion to keeping you warm. Several things affect how fast your metabolism works, including your genes, health, and lifestyle. A slow metabolism means your body burns fewer calories, which can lead to tiredness, dry skin, weight gain, and cravings.

Why Does Your Metabolism Slow Down?

There can be many reasons why your metabolism may be slowing down. You inherit some of it, and it tends to slow down as you age, often due to changes in your body and less muscle. Men and women have different metabolisms because of body size, makeup, and hormones. What you eat matters too – not enough healthy food or a very low-calorie or high-fat diet can slow it down. A lazy lifestyle, lack of sleep, and stress can also make your metabolism sluggish. Certain health problems like diabetes or an underactive thyroid, and even environmental factors, may also play a role.

Signs You Need To Improve Your Metabolism

While these are some common signs, it is best to visit a healthcare professional and ask for their opinions before you try a solution. There are many underlying reasons as to why you are experiencing slow metabolism, it can also be a side-effect of some medicine. A healthy lifestyle goes a long way, especially for people who already have digestive issues, kidney or even mental health issues like stress and anxiety.

Constant Fatigue

Feeling tired all the time, even without a good reason, could mean your metabolism is slow. A slow metabolism means your body breaks down food into energy slowly, leaving you with low energy levels. You might feel sluggish or get tired easily throughout the day. Changes in what you eat or your body composition (how much fat and muscle you have) can also make you feel more tired.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is common in winter, but if you have it all the time, it could be a sign of a slow metabolism. Thyroid hormones help control your metabolism and also keep your skin hydrated. If your thyroid isn't working right and your metabolism is slow, your skin might get very dry.

Weight Gain

If you're eating healthy and exercising but still gaining weight, a slow metabolism could be the problem. A slow metabolism doesn't turn food into energy quickly, so you burn fewer calories. Extra calories are stored as fat, making it hard to lose weight.

Feeling Cold

Feeling cold even when it's not cold outside can be a sign of a slow metabolism. Your body generates heat through metabolism. If your metabolism is slow, your body temperature might be lower. Some studies show that people with an underactive thyroid or obesity may have lower body temperatures because of a slow metabolism. This can be because of problems with thyroid hormones, which help your body make heat.

Food Cravings

Craving sugary or fatty foods can be a sign of a slow metabolism. Studies show that cravings are related to metabolic health. This is especially true for people who don't eat enough healthy foods, have bad eating habits, or have low muscle mass and high fat mass. Cravings might also mean your body isn't getting enough energy from the food you eat, so it wants more energy.

Mood Swings

Everyone has mood swings sometimes. But if you have them often, it could be from a slow metabolism. Low energy and hormone problems that come with a slow metabolism can make you irritable and frustrated. Some older research also suggests a link between mental health issues and a slow metabolism.

Digestive Problems

Digestion and metabolism are connected. Digestion breaks down food, and metabolism turns it into energy. If your metabolism changes, like slowing down, it can affect your digestion. A slow metabolism can cause constipation, bloating, or diarrhea.

When women are in their 40s, their bodies start to change a lot because of the hormones. This is mainly because the estrogen and progesterone levels in the body start to go down. This time is called Perimenopause.

It is when women start to move towards menopause. It can bring a lot of emotional changes. Some of these changes are normal.

Why Do Hormonal Changes Happen After 40?

After 40, women's bodies start to produce estrogen. This means they can have an imbalance.

Women's bodies need hormones like estrogen and progesterone to have periods, strong bones, a good mood, and to stay at a healthy weight. When these hormone levels change, it affects parts of the body. This change can take a year before it stops at menopause.

Common hormonal changes women experience

• Irregular periods

• Hot flashes and night sweats

• Mood swings and anxiety

• Weight gain and slower metabolism

• Sleep disturbances

• Skin and hair changes

Symptoms That Should NOT Be Ignored

While some changes are normal, some symptoms need a doctor's help:

• Heavy or prolonged bleeding

• Persistent fatigue

• Severe mood changes

• Sudden weight gain

• Bone pain or weakness

When women are over 40 and their hormones change, they are more likely to have:

• Heart disease
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid disorders
• Metabolic issues

Estrogen helps keep the heart and bones healthy, so when its levels go down, women are more likely to have these health problems."

How Can Women Manage These Changes?

• Eat a balanced diet

• Exercise regularly

• Manage stress

• Have regular health check-ups

• Sleep well

Women should talk about these changes openly. If they know what is happening and see a doctor early, they can make this time easier.

Hormonal changes after 40 are a part of getting older, but women should not ignore them. Especially if the symptoms are very bad or happen all the time.

If women understand what is happening in their bodies and see a doctor when they need to, they can be healthier and more confident. If women take care of themselves now, they can have a life in the years to come.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tradipitant to be sold under the brand name Nereus, for the prevention of vomiting induced by motion in adults — a first in the last four decades.

Motion sickness affects an estimated 65 to 78 million Americans—roughly 25 to 30 percent of adults—during everyday travel by car, plane, or boat. For decades, patients have had no meaningful new treatment options.

Tradipitant is an oral neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist that prevents motion-induced vomiting in adults.

It is an oral capsule, often taken 60 minutes before travel to block signals causing nausea.

The drug by Vanda Pharmaceuticals is now commercially available across the US.

"Today marks an important milestone for the tens of millions of Americans who experience motion sickness symptoms during common travel," said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D, President, CEO, and Chairman of Vanda, in a statement.

How Tradipitant Prevents Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the eyes, inner ear, and body while in motion. This sensory mismatch is believed to trigger the release of substance P, which activates NK-1 receptors in the central nervous system and ultimately leads to nausea and vomiting.

Tradipitant works by blocking these receptors, interrupting the vomiting pathway.

"NEREUS is a selective, high-affinity antagonist of human substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors that can block the vomiting center of the brain,” Polymeropoulos said.

Tradipitant was approved by the FDA, following two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials—Motion Syros and Motion Serifos—conducted under real-world conditions on the open sea.

Also read: India Installs US FDA-approved Portable MRI For Bedside Brain Scans At AIIMS Delhi

Both studies demonstrated that tradipitant significantly prevents vomiting compared to placebo, confirming the drug's effectiveness in actual sea travel conditions. It is the first new prescription option for people with a history of motion sickness in over 40 years.

It employs a novel mechanism as a selective, high-affinity antagonist of human substance P/NK-1 receptors. It offers simple dosing with just one or two capsules a day taken approximately an hour before travel.

Is Tradipitant Safe? Are There Any Side-Effects?

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According to Vanda Pharmaceuticals, tradipitant may impair abilities required for driving a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery.

Combining tradipitant with sedatives or medications that increase the drug's levels may increase this effect. If use together cannot be avoided, your doctor may warn against driving or operating heavy machinery.

The most common side effects associated with tradipitant include drowsiness, headache, and fatigue.

Moreover, strong CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase NEREUS™ levels and the risk of side effects, the company said.

There are limited data on tradipitant's use in pregnant women and children.

Tradipitant is also not recommended in patients with liver problems or severe kidney problems.

Type 2 diabetes was once rare among the young. Now, it is a common diagnosis for Indians in their 20s and 30s. The country currently faces a massive health crisis with 101 million confirmed diabetic patients and 136 million prediabetics. This sudden spike did not happen because human genetics broke down overnight. It happened because the way we live has completely transformed.

Asians (Indians ) already have a " thin- fat " body phenotype, which has a heavy genetic disadvantage. Even when an Indian person appears thin, they typically carry a much higher body fat percentage than a European person of the exact same weight. This fat builds up dangerously as visceral fat around the internal organs. Because of this, Indians develop severe insulin resistance at a much lower Body Mass Index (BMI).

Secondly, we tend to have faster beta-cell exhaustion. The pancreas simply stops producing enough insulin earlier in life.

Thirdly, if you have a positive family history, then the risk is higher and happens at an early age as compared to the previous generation.

But definitely it is not just genetics. Our DNA remains exactly the same as it was a century ago. Still, the age of onset is dropping at an alarming rate. Data from the massive ICMR-INDIAB study reveals that the real "take-off" point for diabetes now sits squarely in the 25 to 34 age bracket. Out of all the people under 25 diagnosed with diabetes today, one in four has Type 2. It used to be very rare to see anything other than Type 1 in young adults.

Now, the situation is completely different. States like Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are recording huge numbers, especially in city areas. Data collected in Tamil Nadu from 2006 to 2016 proved that the 20 to 39-year-old age group was getting sick at a faster pace than older generations. Across India, the total prevalence rate jumped from 7.1 percent to 11.4 percent. If current trends hold, we are looking at 152 million cases nationwide by 2045.

Why Diabetes Is Rising?

The absolute driver behind this youth explosion is a drastic shift in how we live. Urbanization wiped out physical activity. Young professionals sit at desks for ten hours, endure stressful commutes, and spend their remaining free time staring at screens.

Our diets worsened at the same time. Traditional balanced meals gave way to heavily refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed food, which the younger generation highly depends on. Polished white rice, refined wheat, and cheap ultra-processed foods flood our daily plates. Young people eat far less protein and fiber. This combination of daily sugar spikes and zero physical movement directly causes the abdominal obesity driving this epidemic.

The rapid rise in youth diabetes comes down to a severe gene-environment mismatch. Young Indians live in bodies biologically programmed to store fat to survive famines, but they now live in an environment of constant fast food and zero movement. We cannot rewrite our DNA. We can, however, change our daily habits.

As per RSSDI, early medical screening before age 25 is now an absolute necessity. Replacing heavy carbs with a low-carb, high-protein diet, fixing bad sleep schedules, and making time for daily physical activity can stop this crisis. Youth diabetes is entirely preventable. We just need to act before it is too late.