Stress And Obesity

Some people lose appetite when they are stressed out while others will munch away whatever they could find when confronted with stress. Stress is one of the leading indirect cause of obesity. A survey conducted indicates that a majority of the American eat meals while they are under stress.

Stress slows down metabolism and cause the heart rate and blood pressure to rise. Blood is diverted away from the stomach to the arms, legs and brain in preparation for survival mode. Such physiological stress affects the gut, digestion, assimilation of food and slow down the burning of calories. Thus it is never a good idea to eat while your body is under stress as it may cause heartburn, obesity and other problems such as gastroesophageal reflux or heartburn.

Stress may cause hormone inbalance and triggers the onset of a variety of health problems. Increased stress hormone such as cortisol may cause weight gain around midsection of the body. The visceral fat that gathers around the midsection and internal organs increase the risk of contracting diabetes and other diseases.

There are many ways to de-stress. Endorphins, better knowns as tranquilizing chemical are released into the brain during exercise and this help to calm , relax and rejuvenate the mind and body. Get adequate proper quality sleep to enable the body cells to repair and rejuvenate. Keeping yourself mentally and physically occupied throughout the day could help you to cope with stress gradually.

It is not possible for you to to eliminate all stress from your daily life. After all, some stress are good for health as it helps the mind and body to stay sharp and focus. Nevertheless, it is important that you take necessary precautions to prevent stress from causing disruptions to your physical and mental health.