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How the Stress of the Holidays Can Make You Gain Fat
As seen on BCTV December 15/98
When we feel stressed, our body produces hormones that prepare us to flee from the stressful situation. But if we don’t actually flee, the increased levels of these hormones, namely cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, can contribute to weight gain even though we feel like we’re on overdrive burning lots of calories.
How Does This Happen?
There are 4 mechanisms at work making us gain fat when we are stressed:
- The hormones we secrete make the fat cells in the abdominal region more receptive to taking up fat and storing it.
- After we experience stress, we often feel a ravenous hunger and may snack on the wrong types of foods.
- Stressful situations cause our body to produce more insulin. This can result in more fat storage by making the body more sensitive to lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that promotes making more fat.
- Constant stress can lead to more oral activity such as nail biting, smoking, drinking and of course, nibbling.
So, work at managing holiday stress. Plan meals and snacks. Stock your life with food. That is, throw fruit, vegetables or energy bars into your briefcase, your glove compartment and anywhere else you may need to grab from on the fly. Reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake. And give your body some down time or a chance to recover from stress through getting adequate sleep, venting your frustrations through good communication, exercising and practicing relaxation techniques.
Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!
Article written by Patricia Chuey and reprinted with permission