Stress and Weight Gain

So many of us wonder why they don’t lose weight despite exercising and healthy eating habits. You might have reduced or eliminated all possible indulgence – carbs, lattes, desserts – and yet, there is no sign of a major weight loss.
There is a direct correlation between stress and weight gain: “Within a few minutes of being in a state of high anxiety and stress, the body releases the hormone Cortisol which, in turn, leads to blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance and weight gain.”

The main indicator insulin resistance of is:

• Fat around the middle: the liver turns excess sugar into fat and stores it around your waist

Health concern:

• Abdominal fat is linked to heart disease and diabetes


Stress vs Metabolism

Metabolism meltdown

You may not see a different in your weight on the scales but study has shown that chronic stress increases concentration of the hormones Leptin and Blood Glucose levels. According to Dr. Joan Borysenko “the study shows is that muscle and other tissues were turning into fat and the stress was influencing overall metabolic health.”
Affected sleep pattern

Stress stops us sleeping which puts further pressure on our metabolism:

• A study involved 120,000 people over 20 years has found that sleeping less than 6 hours and more than 8 hours is linked to weight gain.

• A study from University of Chicago has found that people who have a good night sleep lose 55% more body fat than those who only got 5-hour sleep

Once tired and sleepy, our bodies need more fuel. This makes us opt for more fatty foods and carbs which are almost immediately changed into glucose.