CNN.com: Do skinny people have faster metabolisms? Not really
It might seem counterintuitive, but generally speaking, skinny people don’t have faster metabolisms than people who weigh more. In fact, the bigger your body, the more calories you burn.
Basal (or resting) metabolism refers to the total number of calories all the cells in the body need to stay alive and functioning. “Your resting metabolic rate is typically described as the total number of calories your body needs while at rest. This is made up of basic functions like supporting your vital organs, muscle and fat tissue and the energy that is required to break down food we eat,” said Martin Binks, director of the Nutrition & Metabolic Health Initiative at Texas Tech University.
“Your total calorie requirement includes these plus what’s needed to move around,” he added. “Therefore, by nature of having more mass, a larger person burns more calories.”
