Stress and weight gain are they link?
Causes Of Weight Gain
Human beings are more prone to weight gain due to certain specific factors. These factors include old age, pregnancy, high stress levels, medical conditions, menopause and hormonal imbalance, frequent consumption of alcohol or smoking, etc.
The most common mistake among people who try to lose weight and want to shed extra kilos is that they include carbohydrates and sugars in their diet instead of including fiber and proteins. You need to understand that proteins and fiber are very conducive to your body and they help to keep the body fit and healthy.
If you are really trying out hard to lose your extra pounds, then another thing that you might be doing wrong is not doing enough physical activities. You might not be making any significant changes in your workout routine and diet.
Working out regularly and dieting can help control weight gain. But sometimes we experience hormonal changes and stress that can surge our weight.
The imbalance of hormones like thyroid hormone, growth hormone, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis can trigger weight gain. If you face such problems, you should see a doctor about the same as soon as possible.
You may be gaining weight as a part of your stress-coping mechanism as well. For instance, you may have issues with your spouse or colleagues at work or school that are creating distress which is making you eat more in order to subside your distress. Many people who suffer from stress tend to eat more but they have to accept that it is time to repent for what is wrong in their life.
The Unhealthy Connection Between Stress & Weight Gain
Stress is the body's reaction to pressure and while stress does not directly cause fat gain, it is a contributor to emotional eating and weight gain. Emotional eating can be due to a number of things such as stress, boredom, and even the desire to be comforted. Whatever the reason behind your emotional eating, it can lead you to overeat and ultimately weight gain. Studies suggest that the metabolic rate of our body decreases when we are under stress. Thus, higher stress levels can increase the risk of obesity.
Stress is a part of everyday life for many people and in order to reduce your stress levels, you must learn to manage your stress effectively by identifying the cause and coping with it.
Stress eating is one of the most common ways in which people cope with stress. You may start eating more than usual in order to deal with your worries which may lead to increased weight.
You can avoid this by exercising regularly and eating regularly. This will ensure that you balance your food intake and also reduces the risk of binge eating when you are stressed.
When you feel stressed, your body produces the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol increases your appetite, especially for high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods, which can lead to weight gain.
Stress has its effects on our bodies. It can leave you harassed, exhausted and hapless, besides making you prone to headaches, irritation, insomnia and even depression. However, what few of us don’t know is that stress can also make you put on weight! This is because it is believed that the stress hormone cortisol increases the activity of the enzyme that helps you store fat.
How to Deal with Stress?
Stress, an inevitable part of life for most people, is often the culprit behind poor eating habits, lack of exercise and low productivity. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to effectively manage stress. The key is finding the ones that work for you.
When you are experiencing stress, it can be difficult to look at the problem objectively. This is where you need to practice stress management techniques.
The following are some of the most effective stress management techniques:
Many experts suggest that simply expecting to feel less stressed after the fact is not enough. "It needs to be a conscious effort."
No matter what you're dealing with, stress management starts with the three pillars of positive mental health: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness and exercise (either yoga that will help you beat stress or running).
An effective breathing exercise is an advantage over taking a pill or just sitting with a blank stare, which is how some people cope with uncomfortable feelings.
When you begin to feel stressed, start with a short, three-part breathing exercise. In through your nose, down into your belly and up into your chest.
Find your sanctuary: Find a place where you can go to unwind and be yourself, whether it’s a room, garden or park. This is your sanctuary where you can let all of your worries melt away. For many, this is their bedroom - a place they can retreat to when their mind is racing or just need some time alone.
Resist drama: Whether it’s gossiping with friends or watching reality shows that only serve to bring you down, avoid drama at all costs. In fact, it might help to avoid places where drama occurs altogether.
Take Away
The stress factors in our life can be very different from one another. It could be a relationship, a job, a family problem, a financial problem, a health issue or a death in the family. Whatever it is, our reaction to the stress factors that we encounter in life determines how we deal with them. And since stress factors are unavoidable, we must learn how to deal with them effectively.
To control your stress and weight, channelise your energy towards something positive and useful instead of letting it affect your health and mood. The various ways of dealing with stress would be better described as strategies.
