FAT GAIN AND RELAPSE: STRESS AND ANXIETY

Chronic stress. There is good anecdotal evidence of a link between stress and body fat levels, although the association is a complex one. Under cases of acute, life threatening stress, animals (including humans) stop eating and go into a protection mode. They also tend to burn more energy, both through increased physical activity and increased ‘nervous energy’. However, most modern day stress is usually less life threatening and more chronic, or long term in nature. Under these circumstances many humans—particularly fat ones—tend to eat more, drink more alcohol, and generally become less active, all factors predisposing to increases in body fatness. Long term, ‘chronic’ stress can increase obesity by:

• encouraging over-eating (especially of high-fat snack foods)

• immobilising efforts to improve lifestyle

• decreasing feelings of ‘self control’

• decreasing self-esteem

• consuming available energy and efforts while in survival mode

• increasing alcohol consumption.

‘Restrained eaters’ (those who restrict their food intake because of consciousness of being too fat) tend to be most likely to gain fat under periods of chronic stress.” Caution about eating, and all other concerns about food intake usually go by the wayside with long term increases in stress levels and food may serve a ‘comfort’ role to the stressed individual. In one research study, women were shown to be more prone to over-eating during stressful periods, whereas only men regarded as ‘emotional eaters’ respond in this way. In any case, anyone prone to fat gain during stressful situations should perhaps deal with the stress as a means of body fat regulation. Stress alleviation initiatives, therefore, may be an integral part of a body fat management program for some individuals.