Is stress making us fat?

To put it simply, persistent stress from anxiety makes it more likely for people to form unhealthy daily habits, which can then have a direct effect on your body’s hormonal balance. This, in turn, can completely slow your metabolism, thus - weight gain!

Being anxious depletes our energy levels, and in today's world, anxiety is prevalent. For those that suffer from panic attacks, it can leave you feeling mentally and physically drained. The exhaustion that anxiety causes may appear in some individuals as feeling sleep deprived, even if they manage to get a solid 8 hours in. This exhaustion can be linked with feeling depressed and living in a general state of ‘survival mode’.

This mental and physical exhaustion can then show manifest into feeling unmotivated in daily life. The last thing you want to do when you are feeling exhausted, anxious and unmotivated, is to cook a healthy meal, and so we may find ourselves looking for any other easy alternative.

The convenience that pre-packaged or fast food alternatives give us may offer some relief, but they are often overly processed, high in calories, low in nutrients, and in the long term the effects of eating like this actually lead to more worries and stress. Health anxiety is very real. Furthermore, the trouble with convenient foods is that they are produced and formulated to be highly addictive and spike your endorphins, which then keep you coming back for more so the cycle continues. The happiness spike we feel from these foods is unfortunately short-lived, but it helps to explain how serious food addictions can begin.

Another health roadblock for those suffering from anxiety and stress is the urge to rest. If your body is already trying to deal with daily physiological stress, the desire to willingly put it under more stress by exercising is not likely. This paired with unhealthy eating happens makes is even harder for those suffering from anxiety and depression to maintain or lose weight.

Alcohol is often used to numb the feeling of stress, however, the temporary relief it may bring also damages the body in slowing down internal recovery processes, and also slowing our metabolism.

As previously mentioned, ongoing stress on the body can trigger a hormonal imbalance, and this balance regulates our metabolism, dictates how we use and store calories, and directly influences our hunger.

Stress triggers the release of both cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body for action, essentially. This is also known as the fight or flight response. Will you need to stay and fight the threat? Or utilise your energy to flee from it?

The adrenaline released will somewhat suppress your hunger, however once the stress has subsided, the cortisol will switch it back on. In the wild, this is a necessary physiological response, however, in today's human society, most of these threats are created by our minds, and are only real in our minds, not posing any real physical danger.

Unfortunately, for those with anxiety, it is common to jump in and out of this physiological response several times a day. The body does us a favour by storing a lot of fat, especially in the waist area, to be used for energy in these kinds of moments.

Although these feelings and situations aren’t always unavoidable in life, there are two things you can start today to help it.

1. Meal prepping 2-3 times a week. Make a list of every meal you will be consuming for the following few days and prepare them. A balanced whole-food plant-based meal will be your best option, for more info on why see my blog “Food & Mental Health”. Meal prepping not only saves you time and money in the long run, but the health benefits and mental relief it provides are priceless.

2. Exercise. I completely understand how hard it can be to get motivated, but this can be so beneficial to mental health and stress levels. Exercise releases endorphins within our bodies and this, in turn, makes us feel happier and over time you are more likely to look forward to exercising once you find a routine that works for you. Exercise also reduces our perception and sensitivity to pain, which is extremely beneficial to people suffering from anxiety.

Setting routine, preparing for the week ahead, and exercise, can help set the foundation to a calmer, more productive and healthier life. There are also so many other things you can do to help reduce stress and improve your health but I truly believe in the power of planning, healthy eating and movement. I wish you all the best along your journey.