There are a variety of scientific explanations for why stress and anxiety might make people put on extra weight. Gaining weight itself can occasionally turn into a source of stress and stigma that encourages additional weight gain. We can't completely get rid of all the major sources of stress in our lives, but we can somewhat influence how it affects our bodies. Scientists have discovered techniques to reduce stress, retrain your brain, and alter your diet in order to avoid stress-related weight gain.
Stress And Belly Fat
When our brain detects danger, our bodies have evolved to release the stress hormone cortisol. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels increase as a result of cortisol. Cortisol defends you from immediate threats in the short term by putting your body into the fight-or-flight response. However, persistent cortisol elevation might result when your stress levels are elevated on a regular basis due to your job, finances, and other conditions. One negative impact of cortisol is that it encourages body fat, particularly visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs and is highly poisonous. According to studies, those with greater cortisol levels typically have higher BMIs. A nutritionist claimed that struggling with stress all the time can cause your body to start storing fat. Stress will encourage the accumulation of fat, even if you don't alter a single aspect of your diet.
Why You Eat More
In experiments conducted in the lab, researchers discovered that giving patients synthetic cortisol significantly increases their caloric intake compared to giving them a placebo. Part of the reason for this is that cortisol decreases your brain's receptivity to leptin, commonly known as the satiety hormone, which controls your appetite and makes you feel full.
In one study of department store employees, those who worked long, difficult shifts consumed more sugar, saturated fat, and total calories than those who worked shorter, less demanding periods. Overeating can result even from enjoyable activities that cause stress. Researchers in one study monitored dedicated football supporters in various cities.- Fans of NFL clubs that lost were found to have higher intakes of calories and saturated fat the following day. After their teams had won, supporters consumed less food and saturated fat. When the researchers examined the eating habits of French soccer fans, they discovered similar findings.
Through their effects on the brain, chocolate, candies, ice cream, and other comfort foods reduce stress. Dopamine, the hormone that fosters pleasure, and other neurotransmitters are released when reward centres, such as the nucleus accumbens, are activated.
Some people notice a decline in appetite when under stress. Weight appears to play a part, but scientists are still unsure of why stress makes some people reach for the cookies while others do not. According to some research, changes in brain activity that increase food cravings in reaction to stress may be triggered by insulin resistance, a condition that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and is more prevalent in obese persons.
How To Control
Even while you can't always eliminate stress from your life, you can rewire your brain such that it craves better meals in times of stress. Pick a fruit kind you don't typically consume, like pineapple, kiwi, or star fruit. Use frozen fruit if buying these fruits fresh is too expensive or difficult. Try performing this exercise in various parts of your house or workplace and at various times of the day. This will only function at your kitchen table if you always do it there. Reach for your "comfort fruit" instead of a bag of chips when you are feeling worried or anxious. "With this method, you can break your comfort-eating habit for good."
