The stress hormone is released when our body is in dire need of energy during a crisis. Cortisol, formed by the adrenal glands, provides our body with the exact amount of energy that we need during such an instance. The energy is released into our system in the form of insulin or glucose. This in turn is used for facing the situation and the energy level drops once the intensity of the situation falls and it stabilizes. This is the time when our body yearns for energy in the form of glucose and thus, we tend to look for sweet edibles that are mostly junk, unhealthy and difficult to digest. Such circumstances force us to believe that we need food as soon as possible and that all the stored glucose inside our body is over but it is scientifically proven that it’s just an illusion. Our body does not need the excess carbs and fats that we provide it with. These excess particles mostly get accumulated around our belly region and lead to the formation of belly fat. Stress-related weight gain is caused by the aforementioned illusion. The frequent or constant secretion of the cortisol hormone leads to persisting stress and thus, an increase in body weight. The vicious cycle of stress and weight gain continues, giving rise to several other health problems such as diabetes mellitus, heart-related and blood pressure issues.
Stress and weight gain: How does it harm us further?
- Binge Eating
Binge Eating is an issue faced by several individuals these days that leads to stress-related weight gain. During stress, people end up eating too much at one go and that too, unhealthy food. Instead of spending time and effort in laying out proper healthy meals, one ends up having whatever is easily available. This is also due to the laziness caused by stress.
- Feeling Lethargic
As mentioned above, the high levels of the cortisol hormone are the reasons for a decreasing rate of metabolism. Work feels like a burden and doing even the slightest amount of work can make one feel fatigued. Thus, people with stress don’t even feel like working out.
- Irregular Sleep Schedule
The sleep cycle gets distorted due to stress and further leads to stress-related weight gain. According to fitness enthusiasts, sleeping properly is a mandatory requirement for the process of weight loss. The distortion in the schedule tends to worsen the already hampered digestion process and leads to the accumulation of fats in different parts of the body, the belly in particular. This kind of spot accumulation is extremely difficult to get rid of.
- Depression
People don’t talk about mental health as much as they do about physical health and wellness. Stress can lead to anxiety and depression in the long run. The jobs that used to be quite mundane for an individual seem unachievable during the depression phase. Depression can also stem from being overweight. Anxiety or panic attacks become frequent, since the individual is no longer capable of facing any situation without having to worry about it. Such individuals need immediate counseling or therapy. There are several clinically approved ways to eliminate depression from our lives, step by step.
