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How Stress Makes You Flabby

by Michael O’Shea

Published in Parade Magazine: 11/20/2007

Most of us have long suspected a connection between stress and weight gain, but the relationship was largely thought to be psychological. In fact, emotional eating is one of the major causes of weight gain. For many people, the first response to feeling overwhelmed is to reach for food. And let’s be honest, chances are you’re going for comfort food high in sugar or fat, not a bag of carrots. Add in the fact that when you’re busy, the first thing to go by the wayside is exercise, and you’ve got a recipe for diet disaster.

The Relaxation Solution

Guess what? The link between stress and weight gain is much stronger than originally thought. New research suggests an actual physiological reason that people under stress tend to gain weight. A recent study by Georgetown University Medical Center showed that mice under stress gain extra weight even if their calorie intake doesn’t go up. The study’s senior author, Dr. Zofia Zukowska, says: “By three months, they became twice as obese as mice without stress, even when they ate the same amount of food. Stress seems to release a chemical reaction that triggers fat cells to grow and multiply in number.”

To make matters worse, the extra pounds caused by stress tend to be stored around the belly. Though they aren’t yet sure of the precise reasons for this, Dr. Zukowska says, “Researchers suspect that stress and diet stimulate an enzyme present in particularly high amounts in the abdominal fat.” This is the most dangerous place for fat to end up in people, since it increases the risk of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

It’s Not Just What You Eat

More research is under way, but in the meantime, Dr. Zukowska says, “Paying attention to the fact that stress may amplify weight gain means it’s important to include relaxation therapy as a part of any weight-loss program. Exercise remains one of the most effective antidotes, because it lowers stress hormones. Even a 15-minute walk can help break the cycle.” You also may want to incorporate yoga, meditation or any activity you find calming into your routine.


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