Don't Blame Your Metabolism If You Can't Lose Weight

Can't lose weight? Don't blame your metabolism. It's easy to say it's your body's fault you're chubby, but, it's a big fat lie, says Dr. Susan Roberts.

For those who struggle to lose weight, it has always made sense to blame a slow metabolism.

In my work as a diet doctor and nutritionist, I hear this excuse all the time to explain away everything from middle-age spread to the fact that their best friend eats twice as much, but stays effortlessly slim.

It's not that they are overeating, they insist, it's because their body doesn't burn up calories as efficiently.

But what is the real truth about the link between your metabolic rate - that is, the amount of energy used up by your body just to keep your heart beating, your blood pumping and so on - and weight gain?

Does a slow metabolism automatically mean you will end up overweight? To find out, I have tackled seven of the most common myths about metabolism. Read more