Stress and Weight Gain: Understanding the link between Stress and Weight Gain

Stress and Weight Gain: Understanding the link between Stress and Weight Gain

The Stress - Weight Management Issue

Stress is the way a person responds to pressure from various situations and it affects mental, physical, psychological and emotional well being.

Most of us are victims to stress. We cannot change our surroundings but we can definitely change a few things in our lifestyle!

The demands of a job, relationship with colleagues, personal ambition, and competition are other reasons for stress in the lives of most people now a days. Especially at such places, stress is also linked to many addictions like overeating, smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.

Physical problems associated with stress range from something as common as a headache to long term stress diseases like, digestive problems including ulcers, insomnia, fatigue, high blood pressure, nervousness, heart disease, strokes and even cancer.

It may even lead to emotional disturbances like, anxiety, anger, depression, irritability, frustration, over-reaction to everyday problems, memory loss and a lack of concentration for any task and psychological problems like withdrawal from society, phobias, compulsive behaviors, eating disorders and night terrors

Stress Management

Stress management involves a complete behavioral change including a change in the lifestyle and attitude.

Stress is known to induce eating disorders and addictions. Diet management is an important part of a lifestyle modification and a well nourished body is less prone to the ill effects of stress.

Processed foods, fast foods, stimulants and addictions make and stressful condition worse.

Another problem that people may face during stress is that of overeating. During a stressful condition, hormones are released in the body and these cause an increase in the utilization of the stored fats and carbohydrates for instant energy.

Once the stressful condition subsides, these hormones continue to stay in the body leading to an artificial craving for food. That's when we end up consuming an unnecessary amount of fat and carbohydrate rich foods.

Stress often leads to stomach cramps, constipation and digestive problems. 

A diet rich in vegetables provides not only fibre but also amino acids which produce seratonin; a compound that has a soothing effect on the brain. 

Apart from this, maintaining fixed meal timings and having small frequent meals also help in beating the stress!

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Sweta Uchil

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