- Are you stressed? At work or at home?
Sadly, many people answer yes to this question. There are several ways in which stress can contribute to weight gain. Your waistline is a particularly notable victim of stress.
When we are under stress, the fight or flight response is triggered in our bodies, leading to the release of various hormones, including cortisol. When we have more cortisol in our body, we may crave for less healthy food like snacks containing high sugar, and fat content and this can cause weight gain .Mistakes that we do, when we are under stress:
- Forgetting to eat
- Skimping on sleep
- Overdoing it on caffeine
- Skipping your workout
- Emotional eating
- Worrying
- Angry outbursts
- Smoking
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Making bad Decisions :Stress causes you to be bad at making good decisions because it keeps your brain occupied with other thing
Stress Causes:
Cravings
Can cause changes in our blood sugar levels, causing mood swings,fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia.
Excessive stress even affects where we tend to store fat. Higher levels of stress tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips.
This fat deposition has been referred to as “toxic fat,Unfortunately, abdominal fat is not only aesthetically undesirable, it’s linked with greater health risks than fat stored in other areas of the body. Abdominal fat deposition is strongly associated with the risk of developing heart diseases, including strokes and heart attacks
Stress can slow down our metabolism , causing more weight gain.
Stress that’s neglected or left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Ways to manage stress:
1. Exercise : Since exercise leads to the release of endorphins, which have natural stress-fighting properties and can lower cortisol levels.
2. Activities such as yoga, meditation, getting massage and deep breathing can also help lower your stress hormone levels.
3. Getting adequate sleep
4. Eating healthy ,balanced diet and not skipping breakfast
5. Socializing with friends and family
6. Thinking positive
7. Taking time for hobbies, such as listening to music, watching movies and reading a books.
8. Do things that makes you relax and happy
If you are not sure if stress is the cause or if you have taken steps to control your stress but your symptoms still persist, see your doctor.
-Dr. Krishna Priya
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/stress-weight-gain#2
#Thinkhealth blog 