Women, stress and weight gain

My woman friends loses only appetite when it is under pressure; the rest (including me) reach for the nearest comfort food, and much of it in the slightest signs of stress. It seems that we are not alone. A 2000 study found that women stress-induced food and weight gain on certain endangered be can. Of course, having from a dozen Krispy Kremes at the end of a particularly difficult day at work always shiny, you don't need probably scientific evidence for this.

Another study showed that a high body mass index (BMI) in adults, which was found in food and drink in response to stress, in particular women. This higher BMI was probably due to the food, which the researchers found that stress eaters often consume the hamburgers, pizza and chocolate contains out. In addition found stress eater to consume alcohol more often, which could to a large number of additional, empty calories.

Interestingly, there were a variety of common in connection with the lifestyle predictors for men, always in the study, such as job loss or divorce voltage-eaters. For women was the main cause for a problem-lack of emotional support pushed down.

It is a natural, stress - related hormone called cortisol, which can contribute to weight problems particularly abdominal fat in conjunction. High amounts of cortisol are released into the bloodstream, if you are under stress. For cortisol receptors are located in your stomach, fat storage, it triggers. In the year 2000, the researchers found that women with a high waist-hip ratio- both overweight and slim-- apart more cortisol under stress and in their daily lives than women with lower reported waist-hip ratio more pressure.

In addition excess cortisol can lead actually to slow metabolism. This could mean that even if you consume more calories than usual, could gain weight you. But because stress stimulates the appetite, it is likely that you take in more calories than usual when under stress, only the problem connections. Together, is eating more calories and a slower metabolism than usual "Double whammy" in the stress/weight connection; not only do they tend to take more calories than usual, but you burn them efficiently, either.

It is not known exactly at this time as cortisol food may directly affect behavior or appetite, but research is not yet complete; regardless of the cause, the tendency to those high-fat foods can cause actually a vicious cycle of poor food choices above food. Women, the high-fat diet were eating both cortisol reactivity and greater preference for sweet foods have shown increased according to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

Although we now connect cortisol to weight gain, it is ill-advised to reduce pills or to prevent, that to use weight gain associated with cortisol. In 2004 cracked the FTC down on two widely advertised products claim to reduce weight gain caused by cortisol. As FTC spokesman of Lydia B. Parnes said in related press release "No pill a healthy program of diet and exercise can replace."

Because lack of emotional support directly with the women tend to be associated stress eating, it is important that you build your own support network. This could mean to join a support group or personal weight-loss program. Or it can be as easy as to know, which you can, contact friend or family member for support and motivation when you start eating in response to stress. No matter whether she have a E-mail, phone call, or visit, is to others for help to reach significantly more emotional support we crave.

Instead of reach for a snack, outside for a brisk walk of 5 minutes on foot or on foot and some stairs a few times. A burst of activity can help to suppress your appetite. Simply moving or fidgeting can help alleviate tension, so if you have been at your desk or phone for a while, just get up and a little move, even if you not way for an actual walk.

Get regular exercise; Experts agree that regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to deal with stress. It helps to regulate cortisol levels, it can help to alleviate depression and it will help you a better night's sleep (only exercise within a few hours of bedtime bedroom).

Relaxation exercises , which facilitates your fear without food, such as images and guided visualization, breathe deep and take meditation into account. Try an activity, the relaxation with physical activity, such as Tai Chi or yoga combines.

Get enough sleep. If you sleep well, if you are stressed out, can, to have an impact on your weight loss efforts. (Research it can be shown a link between lack of sleep and weight gain.)

One of the best ways of to get a handle on any kind of emotional eating is to get to keep a food diary. Just food and drink intake together with notations about your feelings keep a notebook and after the meal, is a good start. Check the diary every couple of days getting a picture of what feelings you calls you to eat too much, and take time to think alternatives to eat.

Visit to keep an online food diary, about the .com calories count.

To learn more about stress management, please visit stress Guide Web site at about.com.

Sources

EPEL, Elissa, Ph.d., et al. stress can further bite in appetite in women: a laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26 (2001) - 37 19 April 2008.

EPEL, Elissa, Ph.d., and Bruce McEwen, PhD. et al. stress and body shape: stress-induced cortisol secretion is permanently on the figure for women with Central fat. Psychosomatic Medicine 62: 623-632 (2000). 12 April 2008.

Federal Trade Commission. FTC targets products claim that hormone cortisol, 5 Oct 2004 affect stress. 20 April 2008

Ph.d. Laitinen, Janaa and Ellen EK m.SC, et al. stress - related related food and drink, behavior and body mass index and predictors of this behavior. Preventive medicine. 2002 Jan; 34 (1): 29 - 39. 14 April 2008.

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