Being overweight due to stress. On stress eating and cortisol.

'I'm overweight because of stress, stress makes me eat!' Is that true? And why then? How does stress affect obesity? Does stress cause weight gain? In short: does stress make us fat?

It is indeed true. Slimming down is between the ears but... so is gaining weight! Literally! Let's take a closer look at the situation....

People who are highly stressed by all kinds of external factors (excessive workload, children who are difficult to raise, neighbour quarrels, financial worries, etc) or anxieties (phobias, insecurities, unpleasant experiences, past or otherwise) tend to be more overweight than people who go through life more relaxed.

How is that possible?

Cortisol

When one suffers a lot and often from stress, the hormone cortisol is produced from the brain in the adrenal cortex, which breaks down proteins from muscles, causing amino acids (very small particles of protein) to enter the blood.

The liver responds by immediately converting these released amino acids into glucose after arriving in the liver. The increase in glucose levels in the blood gives the body (temporarily) the energy to cope with the stress situation(s).

The annoying thing about stress is also that the body gets more cravings for sweet (extra energy!)

Those under constant stress produce more adrenaline in the body. This triggers the craving for sweet. Those who suffer from healthy tension every now and then, for example just before a lecture, important assignment, exam, performance or deadline will only produce extra adrenaline for a short time which is absolutely not harmful to the body.

However, those who constantly Being under stress constantly produces (too) much adrenaline.

Adrenaline increases our heart rate and raises blood pressure! So the body has to work harder, which in turn requires extra energy (sweet> carbohydrates> glucose).

For this reason, constantly stressed people are much more likely to crave sweets, biscuits and chocolate to feel (briefly) better again. After all, they consume a lot of energy because their heart has to work harder.

Chocolate, sweets and biscuits contain wrong carbs which provide us with a quick dose of energy but, on the other hand, are immediately converted into fat, especially if you also do not exercise much and snack a lot!

Thus, in connection with the stress hormone cortisol that breaks down proteins from muscle that are converted to glucose by the liver, this causes a accelerated and increased storage of fat.

Diabetes 2

The dangerous thing about this increase in blood sugar is that the pancreas also has to work harder to produce extra insulin to bring the blood sugar back down. This constant fluctuation of blood sugar can lead to diabetes: Diabetes 2.

The dangerous thing about constant cortisol production is that the immune system declines. In moments of stress, the body immediately reacts; this is what I need to protect myself from. The body focuses entirely on the stress.

After all, energy is needed to defend, fight back and take action, so the production of other hormones that have protective functions on the longer term  (healing inflammation, fending off bacteria, bacilli and even defending against malignant cells and tumours) are at a lower ebb. After all, the stress is now important, that is the first priority at that moment.

So in that way, prolonged stress can actually make you sick!

This is because all other immune functions are put on the 'second plan' by the body for a long time.

Sick of stress

There are also people who get a 'lump in the throat' or a 'stone in the stomach' due to stress. They block and can hardly or not at all eat because of stress. These people do not get fat from stress, but instead will lose a lot of weight in a short period of time.

Yet this is not good for the body either. Not only for reasons previously mentioned, but also because this (unintentionally) reduces the effect of a crash diet is matched, causing the body to draw energy from proteins in muscle tissue, resulting in physical weakening and deteriorating fitness.

Some examples of physical complaints and actual illnesses that can be caused by stress are:

• Reduced resistance
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Depression
•  Alzheimer's disease
• Muscular atrophy
• Digestive disorders
• Overtired
• Declining libido

So remember to get enough rest, both physically and mentally, and get enough sleep. When we sleep, our body recovers and the mind comes to rest. This certainly has a stress-reducing effect too!

Exercise also produces the hormone endorphins that make us feel better and less stressed! This makes us feel good and burn calories at the same time.

Exercise is the best thing you can do, whether you are stressed or overweight!

Of course, there are natural remedies or even prescription medication available that can reduce the feeling of stress and depression. Nevertheless, there is no better medicine than removing the source this stress causes. Only then is the root of the problem addressed and symptom management (the way the stress expresses itself emotionally and physically) is no longer necessary.

Besides: many drugs have as a side effect: weight gain!

Reading tip:
Life without stress

The above text previously appeared in the Balance book. The book is now sold out, but may still be available to order second-hand via the link below.

The Balance Book

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