What Is The Set Point Theory?

Set point theory, or the idea that every person has a certain weight and body composition that their body will default to, isn't a reason to believe that you can never change your body weight or composition. But your body's set point — a rough weight range that's defined by your genetic makeup in the same way that your genes dictate your height — is important to understand, especially in a time when we're constantly bombarded by images of different body types that may not be attainable. 

The Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia explains that weight is dependent on a myriad of factors outside of controllable things like diet and exercise. General build, bone structure, metabolism, and how naturally muscular you are can all feed into your set point. And while eating certain foods or sticking to a certain diet may help you control your weight, there's a reason your friend may be able to eat two times what you eat and never gain weight. 

Each person has a different metabolism, and the set point theory explains that even if you do restrict calories in order to lose weight, there's a chance that your body will slow your metabolism down and burn less calories in order to maintain your current weight instead of shedding pounds. You can think of your metabolism as your body's self-regulating thermostat (via Verywell Fit).