Constant, unvarying stress, in the form of – family issues, a difficult boss, peer pressure, ill health, mental turmoil, financial trouble, relationship problems can affect your weight. People react differently to stress, and most undergo a definite change in their eating patterns. It’s common to turn to food for comfort, and that could lead to weight gain.
How Does Anxiety And Stress Cause Weight Loss?
- Stress, anxiety and depression can lessen your desire to eat and it can make the food seem unappealing. You shed pounds when you do not get the calories that you require to maintain normal body weight.
- Anxiety triggers fidgety movements or excessive exercise, and thus you burn more calories than you consume and consequently lose weight.
- When you are stressed out, the first hormone to affect you is the corticotrophin-releasing hormone. A surge of the corticotrophin-releasing hormone into the blood shuts down your appetite.
- As the stressor subsides, the body releases cortisol.This perks up digestion again so you can stock up once more.
- Those who put on weight under stress tend to diet under normal circumstances, and when they are under stress, they opt for foods which are off-limits while dieting; thus they reach out for high-fat and high-sugar treats. They are called ‘restrained eaters’. In contrast to these people, ‘unrestrained eaters’ tend to eat less food when they’re under stress. Loss of appetite by an unrestrained eater causes weight loss over the course of a nerve-racking experience. When you consume less food than your body requires to carry out its functions, you will lose weight. In case your body needs 1600 calories per day, but you eat only 1000 calories every day for 2 to 3 months whilst going through a stressful situation, you will lose up to 5 pounds.
Home Remedies To Stop Weight Loss Due To Stress
If your appetite diminishes when you’re stressed, consume small meals and snacks frequently through the day to keep the calorie count stable. Go for calorie-dense foods which also supply loads of nutrients. Avoid only-calorie junk foods which can further deplete your system of nutrients.
Incorporate lean protein, dairy products, nuts and seeds, avocado, fresh and dried fruits olives and olive oil. Getting adequate amount of protein every day replaces muscle you may have lost when you were under stress.
- Making the wrong food choices and not eating as much as you should can compromise your immune system significantly and leave you susceptible to ill health and disease. Ensure that you eat a mix of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. Plan your meals well.
- On days when you do not have much of an appetite, eat small portions throughout the day; it’ll provide you with the necessary calories and will ensure that you do not lose muscle and weight.
- Practicing yoga or meditation is a very good stress-management technique that will definitely help you through the rough patches.
- Avoid brooding and mulling over things too much; keep yourself busy doing something all day.
- Make sure you follow a hobby which rejuvenates you. It could be anything – gardening, painting, pottery, writing and reading, listening to music and dancing. These dispel gloomy, melancholic thoughts and lighten your mood appreciably.