by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: April 22, 2009

There are some people who never seem to get stressed; they practise yoga, eat healthily and are generally laid back seemingly without a care in the world. Most people find that sometimes things just get too much for them, though; they have too much work to do and not enough time to do it in, they are some how managing to spend more money than they are earn, and then there is the constant concern that they are not spending enough time with their family. How do people cope with all these worries? Some people turn to alcohol or drugs; some simply lash out at those around them; others will turn to food. Whichever bad habits people rely on get them through tough situations, most will find that their health is affected in one way or another when they are stressed, from poor sleeping patterns to weight loss or in other cases weight gain.

When people seek comfort in alcohol or food they usually end up consuming considerably more calories than they usually do, and so it is not surprising that many stressed-out individuals end up putting on weight, as people with significant worries on their mind don't generally give their own health and well-being much consideration.

When it comes to food they are more likely to seek comfort in eating junk food, which time constraints can also contribute to. Individuals are increasingly pushed for time, as they try to juggle their home and work lives, and thus are more inclined to eat fast food or meals that they can cook quickly, which are often high in calories, fat, and salt.

When people are struggling to fit everything into their busy schedules they are also more likely to avoid exercise, even though exercise can be extremely beneficial. Exercise not only helps people to maintain a healthy weight and improve their physical fitness; it can also improve people's psychological state as the brain's releases endorphins when people engage in physical activity. It is little wonder, though, that the more stressed people become the more likely they are to adopt unhealthy eating and exercise habits, and thus gain weight.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, can also contribute to people's weight gain as too much cortisol can slow down people's metabolism, affect their blood sugar levels, where fat is stored on the body, and the cravings that individuals may have. Cortisol is released as a result of the fight or flight response which is designed to promote survival, but as more people suffer from chronic stress their health can be jeopardised and they could also end up gaining weight.

The best way for people to try to avoid weight gain when they are suffering from stress is therefore to limit the amount of stress they are exposed to, or to find a better way of dealing with stressful situations than simply turning to food or alcohol. Exercise can be a useful tool in helping people to cope with stress and managing their weight, and so increasing activity levels might be a useful place to start. Ultimately, though, it is up to individuals to formulate their own coping strategies if they want to avoid weight gain.

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