What is my body’s set point? 

Keeping our body as homeostasis should be everyone’s goal. Any distractions, swings, changes in the body impacts the homeostasis , leading to imbalances that can be the cause of inflammation, diseases, mental instability and more… Homeostasis is the state your body is normal, healthy and stable. And can be called the set point. But there is something you need to note before using them interchangeably.  Set point is a term used to describe the state at which your body naturally prefers to stay. Even if it wasn’t the point where everything is normal!!

What impacts your set point?!

What I meant is, your set point is not necessarily the same as your ideal state or weight, whatever you make your body get used to, is going to be the preferred state. And it fluctuates to many factors including influenced by social and cultural factors or personal preferences. These fluctuations happen for survival reasons. Because if you cannot adapt to those changes, you will end up getting sick and the worst scenario is die. So your body makes you get used to it as soon as possible to live. 

Examples 

Normally, for healthy individuals our body temperature is 37 C, and that is what is called a homeostasis. However, if we get infected our body will respond by increasing the body temperature, feeling cold, and various mechanisms causing higher set point. It isn’t the ideal point and it isn’t the normal point. But it is the point that your body prefers at that time as a response to the infection to fight against it.  

Another example is glucose control. For healthy individuals, our set point for blood glucose levels is around 90 mg/dL. However, for diabetics,  because their regulations for blood glucose are less effective, their normal blood glucose level can’t be the same. For them to adapt, their body raises the set point, to a point where higher levels of blood glucose is ideal for them. 

Last example is obesity. When it comes to weight, everyone is different with different set points. And for those who are obese, they have higher set points. Their set point normalises higher food intake, higher appetite and more…

What increases the set point?!

From the examples, you know that higher set points are not favourable. Even if it was what our body prefers but health wise… those adaptations silently kill our cells. That’s why most diseases are chronic nowadays. We are getting used to set points that aren’t normal and healthy. And what increases it, is our food choices like added fats, added sugar, refined grains and salt… all which are used  in abundance. Not mentioning the environmental and social factors. 

How to maintain a healthy state?!

 While some people may be able to easily maintain their set point without much effort, others may find it more difficult due to genetic or hormonal factors. For example, if you have a family history of obesity or have an underlying medical condition that affects your metabolism, your set point may be higher than average. Making any changes difficult as your body fights to maintain its current set point.

However, note that diet or exercise habits play a significant role in determining your set point. For example, if you constantly overeat or don’t get enough physical activity, your set point weight may increase. Conversely, if you consistently eat a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity, your set point weight may decrease. Therefore, it is important to focus on developing healthy habits that support your body’s natural set point. This includes eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods, engaging in regular physical activity that you enjoy, and prioritising rest and recovery. You can start by the 5 steps to healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your set point is the state at which your body naturally prefers to stay. It is not the ideal state but it can normalize what isn’t normal. That’s why it needs to be broken, if needed,  by various lifestyle changes… It is difficult but consistency, and patience are the key, so you can reprogram-me your body to the new healthy, real set point.