How stress can affect your weight

Stress is an inevitable part of life that can affect both our physical and mental health. Stress also affects our eating habits and energy intake. Why is this the case, and how does the body react to stress? How do these reactions affect my weight?

Stress can have a noticeable impact on our eating habits and metabolism. The hormone cortisol is released in the body when we feel stressed, anxious, or strained – which can cause an increased appetite and make us seek comfort in unhealthy foods.

The body can also start to break down muscle tissue for energy when cortisol levels are high. This in turn can slow down our metabolism and make it harder for us to burn calories – and thus we can gain weight.

Sleep problems and their impact on weight

Stress can make it difficult to sleep, and a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for our health and well-being. Research has shown that sleep deprivation can lead to increased appetite and disrupt our metabolism and the hormones that regulate hunger.

It is therefore important to prioritize sleep to avoid these negative consequences for our health and weight. Read more about how sleep and your weight are connected here.

Increased insulin production during stress

When we experience stress, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can raise blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of glucose from the liver. Increased insulin levels are another common reaction to stress, as the insulin hormone helps the body manage blood sugar by increasing the uptake of glucose into cells.

A high insulin response to stress can lead to increased appetite and weight gain in the long term. This is because high levels of insulin can increase the body’s fat storage, especially in the abdominal area. Elevated insulin levels can also lead to an increased risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Stress can affect your habits

When we feel stressed, it is easy to fall back into bad habits, such as overeating or skipping exercise because we feel overwhelmed. This can make it more difficult to achieve your weight goals and maintain a healthy weight in the long term.

Manage your stress

As you can see, stress can affect your weight in many different ways. Increased appetite, changes in metabolism, sleep disturbances, increased fat storage, and changes in habits can make it more difficult to lose weight. Fortunately, there are things you can do about it. Avoid the negative effects of stress on your weight and health by managing your stress.

There are many ways to manage stress, and it’s important to find what works for you. Exercises such as yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, reprioritizing your life, and doing things that give you energy work for many people. Taking care of your inner well-being on a daily basis can help reduce stress and improve your health. Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Your body and mind are connected and help each other to achieve your weight goals when they are working in the same direction – so don’t forget to take care of yourself in every way.

Sources: Men’s Health, Verywellmind, 1177

*Weight loss is individual, so we cannot guarantee how much/how quickly you will reach your goal. The important thing is all the health benefits. We distance ourselves from unhealthy ideals and crash diets, and do not recommend calorie counting if you are underweight, ill, or pregnant.