Stress and Weight | Can Stress Cause Weight Gain Or Weight Loss?

A recent research study found over 75% of people experience stress every day! 

Chronic stress is not fun to deal with, but did you know it can also affect your weight? That’s right, stress and weight gain or weight loss are linked.

When you are stressed your body goes into “fight or flight” mode which changes your hormonal balance. You don’t need to be running from a stampede to enter fight or flight mode. Even everyday events like traffic and stress at work can cause you to have that physiological response. 
 

The Correlation Between Stress and Weight

Recent research suggests that chronic stress can result in:

  • High blood pressure

  • Changes in your brain

  • Weight gain
     

When you are stressed out, you are more likely to overeat and less likely to get enough sleep and exercise. Stress causes your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can produce a build-up of fatty tissue and can cause weight gain. Cortisol increases both your appetite and the amount of fat the body stores. By recognizing your stressors, and engaging in a few simple relaxation techniques, you can learn to reduce your body’s natural stress response. 

  • Cortisol is released in response to stress and increases your blood sugar.

  • Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels. 

  • A relationship between increased cortisol levels and obesity has been found.
     

How To Control Stress and Weight

Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or even simple breathing exercises can help your body counter the stress response. Exercise has also been shown to decrease stress levels substantially.

The next time you are feeling stressed, take a moment to breathe a few deep breaths and try to get some exercise into your schedule that day. Not only will you feel better mentally, but your body will be able to reduce the amount of cortisol produced which will limit your body’s fat storage and help curb any thoughts of over-eating. Staying fit and trim does start in your head! 
 

Get 15 Pounds Healthier in 15 Weeks

Register For The Workshop

Have you been struggling to lose a few pounds and get back in shape? You’re not alone if you’re not at your goal weight right now. Our patients have usually tried all kinds of ways to get healthier in Kansas City – without successfully figuring out how to lose weight for good. Sound familiar?

You won’t want to miss our next workshop, where we’ll cover:

  • Why trendy fad diets don’t effectively keep the weight off

  • The 1 reason you should avoid starvation diets

  • How to say goodbye to “yo-yo-ing” forever

  • The latest research about ways to truly get healthier, shed 15 pounds, and get back to living your best life
     

Register for the Weight Loss Workshop while seats are still available.

Science Source(s): 

Hair Cortisol and Adiposity in a Population‐Based Sample of 2,527 Men and Women Aged 54 to 87 Years. Obesity 2017