Is it just comfort food? How Stress impacts weight Gain.
A study in the effects of stress on body weight stated that “The cumulative 6-hour difference between one prior day stressor and no stressors translates into 104 kcal, a difference that could add almost 11 pounds/year. These findings illustrate how stress alter metabolic responses to high-fat meals in ways that promote obesity”.
When it comes to weight gain, you can never be certain why it is happening. A lot of times I hear from my clients that they are doing everything right, with a healthy diet and exercising, but they are still gaining weight. After doing the proper testing and consulting, it all comes down to one question “how are your stress levels?” and the answer is almost always the same, “high!” In this article we will discuss how stress affects your weight.
What Is Stress and How does Stress affect weight?
Stress is a normal reaction the body has when changes occur, resulting in physical, emotional, and intellectual responses. There is the good stress that comes from excitement like riding a roller coaster, or having your in-laws stay for the weekend. And there is the Bad stress, the unresolved stress, like meeting a project deadline and having your in-laws stay for the weekend, and this one causes the most damage, and it affects the body weight as follow:
- Our bodies respond to stress by triggering a “fight or flight” response which results in the production of cortisol; higher cortisol fosters increased intake of calorie-dense “comfort” foods, and increased insulin secretion. Persistent higher cortisol and higher insulin increase visceral fat accumulation.
- Stress can also lower your body’s resting energy expenditure, which is the number of calories your body burns when you are resting, leading to increased caloric deposition and storage.
- Stress is associated with a decrease in the process of breaking down fatty acids (fats).
- Finally, stress causes an increase in triglycerides levels.
What Can Be Done About Stress-Related Weight Gain?
We all have different ways of dealing with stress so it’s important to recognize what works best for you and make it part of your daily routine. Some helpful tips include engaging in regular physical activity - even if it’s just going for a walk around your neighborhood; focusing on healthy eating by reducing processed foods; staying hydrated; getting enough sleep; finding time for relaxation activities such as yoga or meditation and using the right supplements to help manage your stress levels and promote overall well being – both mentally and physically!
Stress is inevitable but there are steps you can take to manage its effects on your body — especially when it comes to weight management. Understanding how your body responds to stress hormones such as cortisol is key in knowing how best to combat their detrimental effects. Incorporating regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques into your daily routine will go a long way towards keeping those pesky stress hormones in check!