What does "metabolism" mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "metabolism" is defined as the chemical process a plant or an animal uses to create energy needed for survival. Metabolism is responsible for everything from digestion to breathing and muscle movement.

Medline Plus explains that when humans eat, the food is transformed into energy that is needed to perform tasks and control body functions. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with a low metabolism find it much harder to lose weight than those with a higher one because the body processes energy at a slower rate, making it more difficult to turn calories into energy, which leads to fewer calories being burned.