Does stress really cause weight gain?

Question

And if it does...how?

Answer 1

Stress can cause weight gain, indirectly as mentioned above, by dealing with it by over eating...Stress also illicits a cortisol response, and this stimulates the body to store fat, which means it stimulates insulin...So if you add eating too much with high levels of cortisol and insulin your your blood stream, your metabolism slows down, and your body conserves and stores energy as fat.

Answer 2

I think it depends how you deal with your stress. Some people stress and do not eat due to the stomach pains caused by stress, while others use food to comfort their stress and this causes weight gain. Stress is unhealthy either way, so try doing activities to help relax your mind and stop you from over stressing!

Answer 3

Usually it's the side effects of the stress that cause weight gain, esp. when people are emotional eaters. If they're under a lot of stress and snack, then they will gain weight. It works the oppostie too; some people lose their appetites when they get stressed and lose weight.

Answer 4

From personal experience and research I believe stress in itself is not the primary factor for weight gain. It is the way that certain people will choose to handle their stress that will determine whether or not they will gain weight. Most individuals under high stress have a tendency to sit for long periods of time and gorge themselves with food attempting to eat away the problems. The combination of sitting and reminicing about what is causing the stress and eating is what ultimatly causes weight gain. On top of this the inactivity of your body sometimes caused by a lack of energy which in return is sometimes caused by chemical imbalances ultimatly caused by stress pushes the body in question into even further weight gain. Here is my formula for weight gain caused by stress.-> Stress+increased intake in food+inactivity=Weight Gain , so stress itself is not the primary factor of weight gain but only a portion of the equation. Having said that, how you handle stress will ultimatly determine whether or not you will gain or loose weight. Some people choose to channel their stress into positive behavior through exercise or work hence stress can sometimes lead to positive outcomes such as healthy weightloss. Individuals under stress ultimatly determine their own outcomes whether that be gaining weight in an unhealthy fashion, loosing weight in an healthy fashion, or even loosing weight in an unhealthy fashion through starvation or limiting the intake of food. So basically, dont stress out so much and if you do, channel it in a positive manner which is beneficial to your body in return adding years to you life and not detracting from it.

Answer 5

Check out ( http://www.reducingstress.net )
It is a really good stress site.
There are lots of articles on all stress related topics.
They have a whole section on stress and weight gain there.

Answer 6

Yes it can - stress leads to eating and eating leads to weight gain

Answer 7

I believe it does, but I can't prove it. Stress can also cause weight loss. Stress can be a double edged sword. Have fun!

Answer 8

High levels of stress can fatigue your adrenal glands.
Your adrenals pump out cortisol to give you energy to deal with the stress. When they have to keep pumping out cortisol, they give out.

Adrenal fatigue can cause weight gain.

Answer 9

I think that it does. I kind of depends on the type of person you are if you eat when depressed and stressed or not.

Answer 10

yes i think it does because when you are stressed you feel hungry