What Actually Makes Naturally Thin People Thin

We all have skinny people that we have known forever in our social circle. The ones who seem like they can eat whatever they want and never gain weight. 

Although there are tons of opinions about why exactly thin people are thin, we’ve decided to ask someone who will actually know the answer – a scientist in human biology, Dr. Zachary Evans. 

And he not only provided a clear answer but also gave a bulletproof solution to tackle excess weight and become leaner and healthier safely – with a science behind it. 

“So, what is it that makes naturally thin people thin?”

As a doctor and scientist, I see a lot of conflict about the eating habits of thin people.

We assume that they eat healthily on most days. 

Anyone trying to copy them in hopes to achieve similar body mass would be surprised. 

They would think, “Wow, thin people must be eating A LOT less and exercising a lot more, because there is no way they can live the kind of lifestyle they live and not gain a ton of weight.”

In the end, the person trying to lose weight would end up frustrated, having lost little to no weight.

Thin people are thin not necessarily because they eat less, and overweight people can’t lose weight because they overeat. There is something else.

Our thin friends order takeaways, drink sugary drinks, and are not hesitant to have some wine or beer when they get home from work every day, just like everyone else.

And none of these people around us are fitness fanatics who work out for hours every day (most people aren’t). So I know you’re wondering. 

HOW on earth do they manage to stay thin? 

I have two answers for you:

Answer 1: Our slim friends sometimes do consume fewer calories throughout the day. They will have pizza for lunch but will skip dinner, for example. They might also be more active, not necessarily by going to the gym daily, but by walking more, being fidgety, parking a car further from the shop… But it’s just a small number of them. 

Answer 2: Thin people have an active enzyme that regulates metabolism and is often not activated (although there are ways to “fire it up”) in overweight and obese people. 

It’s called an AMPK (5′ AMP-activated protein kinase), an energy sensor within our bodies. 

If activated, this enzyme stimulates metabolism, improves insulin sensitivity, decreases inflammation, and improves muscle performance. ¹

AMPK is also involved in several longevity pathways and may promote healthy aging. ²

Because of AMPK, thin people have a faster metabolism, an answer to why they eat what they eat and are still slim, yet others eat the same thing and wake up 2 pounds heavier the following day.

If you want a faster metabolism, lose pounds and improve your health, pay close attention to this next part to find out how you can fire up your AMPK.

AMPK is dysregulated in major chronic diseases, such as obesity, inflammation, and diabetes. Based on its critical role in physiology and pathology, AMPK is emerging as one of the most promising targets for preventing and treating these diseases. ³

And although it may not be as active in overweight people, there is a way to activate it, thus improving metabolism, which can mean the same amount of food, but decreasing weight.

Can you stop and imagine for a moment this happening simply because you learn how to switch this enzyme on in your body?

Here are the 3 common ways to activate an AMPK (use at least one of the methods below to activate it!)

High-intensity exercise

It includes running, speed walking, climbing stairs, jumping rope, and many more. Although for a beginner, it is always safer to work out with a trainer and start at a lower pace to avoid injury.

Pros and Cons

Unfortunately, high-intensity training is not immediately possible for everyone, especially if they’re already fighting the excess pounds. Yet exercise is widely accepted as one of the best ways to improve health and activate the AMPK.

Ice baths 

Emerging into the cold seems to have gained more attention recently, as it is beneficial if done safely.

Pros and Cons 

Ice baths have been shown to activate AMPK in tests with rodents. No studies on humans have been done yet, but considering how similarly we react to stimulus, this might also have the same effect on people. 

So if you’re comfortable with the cold, consult your physician and try this method out.

Intermittent fasting (not a starvation diet!) 

I can’t express this enough. I’ve seen many people fail their intermittent fasting journeys because they limit themselves to the minimum, thinking they should starve to get the results. 

To activate the AMPK through intermittent fasting, a person should never decrease the amount of food drastically. Instead, they should follow specific eating and fasting windows in a day. 

For healthy weight loss and improved metabolism, it is essential to follow a personalized approach to fasting. Although fasting is probably the easiest thing anyone can do to lose weight, it’s not a one-fits-all approach.

What eating window suits you best to lose weight and activate AMPK?

My patients often ask me to create fasting programs for them, which I sometimes do. But if I don’t have time to create a custom fasting plan for them, I recommend completing a short and free DoFasting quiz. 

And I advise my patients to use this app because it’s personalized and includes features that are vital for maximum weight loss results by activating an AMPK. It is also very similar to what I sometimes create for my patients. 

Can the amazing transformation be just one quiz away? 

For anyone who doesn’t want to minimize their food intake or bathe in ice-cold water to speed up their metabolism and lose weight – personalized intermittent fasting is the way to go. 

In the science community, we love to say that AMPK is a guardian of metabolism. 

And in my opinion, an easier and more immediate way to activate it is a personalized approach to intermittent fasting, which is only one short quiz away.

Take this free intermittent fasting quiz to see predictions on how fast you can start losing weight and what impact correct fasting may have on your health.