Weight gain: why does stress make you fat?

The feeling of stress can lead to cravings and in particular to the consumption of sweet products. And if we eat beyond our nutritional needs, we gain weight. A vicious circle that the guest of Bienfait pour vous, the sports and nutrition columnist Alexia Cornu, deciphers to help us better understand our bodies. There are reasons to explain this phenomenon and solutions exist to overcome these cravings due to stress.

Understanding feelings of stress

The nervous system stimulates a release of hormones during a period of intense stress. Quite simply because originally, humans were genetically made to survive. “During a moment of stress, this feeling was made to survive a mammoth attack for example”, explains Alexia Cornu. The body has therefore become accustomed to associating stress with hormonal secretion which then releases sugar into the body. These secretions will influence blood sugar levels, taste and blood sugar levels. “So it’s as if we had eaten sugar when in fact we did not consume it”, she testifies.

Sugar is also comforting. It increases the production of serotonin, also called the happiness hormone. “So it’s a neurotransmitter that will regulate mood. So it’s true that at the time, when you take sugar, you have this feeling of ‘Ah, that feels good’. Except that it’s of very very short duration”, details the columnist.

Stress will disrupt the satiety signals sent to the body. The latter can sometimes no longer feel hunger and the need to stop eating in time. And be careful not to believe that restrictive diets can help control appetite. “The stomach does not shrink when you eat less. On the contrary, following restrictive diets will tend to increase the production of hunger hormones and reduce this feeling of satiety”, says Alexia Cornu.

Solutions exist

But solutions exist to better tame this feeling of stress. The first solution may be to plan your meals in advance and eat at regular times. The goal is to avoid having food cravings, especially for people who follow restrictive diets. Because exceeding food intake creates additional stress.

And to regulate the appetite, a healthy diet is recommended. For example, high fiber foods will help immensely. “I recommend legumes such as chickpeas, lentils or beans,” adds Alexia Cornu. For snacks, same refrain. It is advisable to take them rich in nutrients, such as fresh fruit, nuts or raw vegetables.