Metabolic Testing Service Info:

Please call the clinic on 56303772 to book this service.

What is Metabolism?

Metabolism is all of the chemical reactions and physiological processes that keep us live. All of these processes require energy which is produced by burning, or oxidising, fuels that we eat, which are carbohydrates, fat and protein. Like when burning any fuel, oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide is produced. By measuring the amount of oxygen breathed in and carbon dioxide expired (gas exchange) we can calculate the amount of energy your body is using, and also the type of fuel that is running it.

Resting Metabolic Rate

We look at your metabolism in two different states: resting and exercising. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) represents 60-75% of your total daily energy expenditure. When measuring metabolic rate in a fasted state, e.g. before breakfast, your body will either be burning fat or carbohydrate, in the form of glucose. Ideally, the majority of your energy at rest would be produced by burning fat, reserving your carbohydrate stores for when your energy demands are higher. Unfortunately, factors such as diet, lifestyle and genetics can impact your ability to burn fat and make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise Metabolism

During exercise the energy demand increases, and so does the amount of fat that is burnt. As the intensity of exercise increases, progressively more glucose will be added to the mix as the energy requirements cannot be met by fat metabolism alone, and at high intensities the amount of fat being metabolised is little to none.

As the intensity increases, a point will be reached where the oxygen supplied can’t keep up with the demand from the exercising muscles, and an increasing proportion of energy will be produced anaerobically (without oxygen). When energy is produced anaerobically, an acidic environment is produced which results in the fatigue and breathlessness that you may have experienced after a heavy training session. This point is called the anaerobic threshold (AT).

If you continue to exercise at increasing intensities, you will soon reach the point where you can’t go any harder, and become exhausted. The amount of oxygen consumed at this point is referred to as your VO 2Max , and represents the maximum amount of oxygen that can be delivered to and used by the working muscles. It reflects the ability of multiple systems including pulmonary (lungs), cardiovascular (heart, arteries and blood vessels) and musculoskeletal systems.

Weight Loss and Management

By measuring your RMR and identifying your fuel sources we can then work to optimise your energy production and get to the root cause of your issue. Your RMR can also be used to quantify how many calories you should be eating according to your goals. By measuring the gas exchange during an exercise test where the intensity is gradually increased, we can pinpoint the intensity where fat burning is greatest, allowing you to make the most out of your exercise sessions.

Athletic Performance

Metabolic testing can give you the tools to take your performance to the next level. Heart rate training zones calculated using standard formulas are rarely accurate, resulting in inefficient training. The heart rate thresholds determined from testing can be used to develop tailor-made diet and effective training plans to improve your fat metabolism, anaerobic threshold and VO 2Max , which translate into improved endurance performance.

Preventative Health

Your metabolism provides your body with energy to think, breathe, move, eat and digest food, eliminate waste, fight off infections, repair, make hormones and every other process that occurs in order to keep your body healthy. The majority of this energy is made aerobically from burning fat in the mitochondria (the powerplants of cells), and is reflected in your RMR, AT and VO 2Max values. While these values can be optimised, they inevitably decline with age. By comparing your values to those of healthy individuals from different age groups you can get an idea of your biological age, as opposed to your chronological age. By optimising your fat metabolism and mitochondrial function you can lower your biological age, which may decrease your risk of age-related disease.

Progress Tracking

Repeat testing can show the effectiveness of any medical, exercise or dietary interventions.

See this link for more information about Bio-Energy Testing an alternate branded system, offering the same information. Also see this VO2-Max-Brochure-v2019_8.0 for info on the Cardio Coach system. 

Please call the clinic on 56303772 to book this service.

Note:

No nutrient medications for 24 hours prior to test 

Fasting – No food for 7 hours, water is allowed 

Please dress appropriately so you can cycle quickly 

For optimal results please do not exercise for 48 hours prior to exercise testing. 

Further information

Test Procedure You will perform the test on a cycle ergometer. The exercise intensity will begin at a low level and stay constant for 3 minutes, and after that the difficulty will increase every minute until your heart rate reaches 85% of age predicted maximum. The test may be stopped at any time because of signs of fatigue or changes in your heart rate, blood pressure, or symptoms you may experience. It is important for you to realise that you may stop when you wish because of feelings of fatigue or any other discomfort. 

Risks or Discomforts There exists the possibility of certain changes occurring during the test. These include abnormal blood pressure, fainting, fast or slow heart rhythm, and in rare instances heart attack, stroke or death. Every effort will be made to minimise these risks by evaluation of preliminary information relating to your health and fitness and by careful observations during testing. Emergency equipment and trained personnel are available to deal with unusual situations that may arise. 

Responsibilities of the Participant Information you possess about your health status or previous experiences of heart-related symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath with low-level activity, pain, pressure, tightness, heaviness in the chest, neck, jaw, back and/or arms) with physical effort may affect the safety of your exercise test. Your prompt reporting of these and any other unusual feelings with effort during the exercise test itself is very important. You are responsible for disclosing your medical history as well as symptoms that may occur during the test. You are also expected to report all medications (including non-prescription) taken recently and, in particular, those taken today to the testing staff. 

Benefits to be expected The results obtained from the exercise test may assist in the diagnosis and/or treatment of your illness, inform your exercise prescription or evaluate the effectiveness of your medical or exercise intervention. 

Confidentiality The information that is obtained during exercise testing will be treated as privileged and confidential. It will not be released or revealed to any individual except your referring physician without your written consent. However, the information obtained may be used for statistical analysis with your right to privacy retained.