claire87john
New member
Stress seems to be becoming an almost accepted part of our daily lives. Anxiety and stress can lead to weight gain due to a number of reasons. When people are stressed they tend to turn to high fat, sugary snacks and anxiety may mean that they are unable to make good decisions about the food that they choose to eat. By becoming more aware of the , you are more likely to be able to recognize the triggers that cause weight gain and take precautions to avoid the actions that may cause you to gain weight.
The Effects of Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can alleviate anxiety and depression. Levels of serotonin in the body can be increased when carbohydrates are eaten which is one reason why you crave sweet foods such as chocolate when you are feeling stressed. However, while these foods may help to relieve anxiety in the short term, the effects are not long lasting and consuming too many carbohydrates will lead to a crash. A lasting effect of consuming these carbohydrates will be the fat and calories that you have eaten which can lead to weight gain.
The Effects of Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone that regulates the various systems of the body. When you are feeling stressed, the body releases higher levels of cortisol and this has been associated with increased abdominal fat. The abdomen is considered one of the most dangerous areas where fat can build up in the body because it is associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Cortisol can cause further problems in terms of weight gain because levels tend to remain elevated even after the stressful situation has passed which can lead to an increase in appetite that does not pass for a while, and the longer you are experiencing feelings of hunger, the harder it becomes to ignore them.
Be Aware of Your Eating Habits
You can reduce the likelihood of anxiety leading to weight gain by becoming aware of what happens to your eating habits when you are under stress. If you know you are likely to reach for unhealthy foods in situations where you become stressed then don't make these snacks easy to get hold of. For example, if you think you will encounter stressful situations at work then keep some fruit or other healthy snacks in your desk. This means that when stressful situations do occur you are more likely to eat these foods because they are close to hand. F are also a good choice as you are likely to feel fuller for longer after eating these types of food as they keep your blood sugar levels steady.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Another way to try and prevent weight gain due to anxiety is to reduce your stress levels. Removing things in your life that cause stress can be one solution but this is not always possible if you have a stressful job or there are things going on in your family life that is causing you stress. Learning some relaxation techniques such as deep breathing can also help. Exercise is a good way to beat stress as it produces hormones such as endorphins that can improve your mood. Exercising also reduces the likelihood of you binging on carbohydrates which can help . In order for exercising to be really successful in reducing stress it needs to be an exercise that you enjoy doing, and not one that you feel obligated to do.
Conclusion
Weight gain caused by stress and anxiety may be primarily due to physical reasons within the body, such as hormonal changes but there are steps that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of weight gain which is caused by anxiety. Becoming aware of your eating habits and making any changes that are needed to stop you overeating is one solution. Taking steps to reduce your stress levels is another strategy that can be used to prevent anxiety causing weight gain. When you find yourself in a stressful situation it is not always easy to think clearly so by preparing for these situations you can reduce the likelihood of you gaining weight due to anxiety.
The Effects of Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can alleviate anxiety and depression. Levels of serotonin in the body can be increased when carbohydrates are eaten which is one reason why you crave sweet foods such as chocolate when you are feeling stressed. However, while these foods may help to relieve anxiety in the short term, the effects are not long lasting and consuming too many carbohydrates will lead to a crash. A lasting effect of consuming these carbohydrates will be the fat and calories that you have eaten which can lead to weight gain.
The Effects of Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone that regulates the various systems of the body. When you are feeling stressed, the body releases higher levels of cortisol and this has been associated with increased abdominal fat. The abdomen is considered one of the most dangerous areas where fat can build up in the body because it is associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Cortisol can cause further problems in terms of weight gain because levels tend to remain elevated even after the stressful situation has passed which can lead to an increase in appetite that does not pass for a while, and the longer you are experiencing feelings of hunger, the harder it becomes to ignore them.
Be Aware of Your Eating Habits
You can reduce the likelihood of anxiety leading to weight gain by becoming aware of what happens to your eating habits when you are under stress. If you know you are likely to reach for unhealthy foods in situations where you become stressed then don't make these snacks easy to get hold of. For example, if you think you will encounter stressful situations at work then keep some fruit or other healthy snacks in your desk. This means that when stressful situations do occur you are more likely to eat these foods because they are close to hand. F are also a good choice as you are likely to feel fuller for longer after eating these types of food as they keep your blood sugar levels steady.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Another way to try and prevent weight gain due to anxiety is to reduce your stress levels. Removing things in your life that cause stress can be one solution but this is not always possible if you have a stressful job or there are things going on in your family life that is causing you stress. Learning some relaxation techniques such as deep breathing can also help. Exercise is a good way to beat stress as it produces hormones such as endorphins that can improve your mood. Exercising also reduces the likelihood of you binging on carbohydrates which can help . In order for exercising to be really successful in reducing stress it needs to be an exercise that you enjoy doing, and not one that you feel obligated to do.
Conclusion
Weight gain caused by stress and anxiety may be primarily due to physical reasons within the body, such as hormonal changes but there are steps that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of weight gain which is caused by anxiety. Becoming aware of your eating habits and making any changes that are needed to stop you overeating is one solution. Taking steps to reduce your stress levels is another strategy that can be used to prevent anxiety causing weight gain. When you find yourself in a stressful situation it is not always easy to think clearly so by preparing for these situations you can reduce the likelihood of you gaining weight due to anxiety.
