Stress and Weight loss

There is a close connection between body weight and stress. Our body weight is controlled by the hormones secreted in our body and hormones secretion is very closely connected to our emotions. Hormones also have a serious role to play in dictating our eating habits.

Cortisol Craving

Adrenaline is one of the life preserving hormones which is secreted when we face threatful situations. The role of adrenaline is to give the body the additional energy and strength to fight or flee the threatful situation. This also increases our metabolic activity hence leading to weight loss. So stress is indeed becomes a reason for weight loss.

However, the above case that one will loss weight due to stress is only partially true. One will lose weight under stressful situations only when the stress attacks are of temporary nature. If the stress has to last for a long period or time or if it becomes the normal style of existence of an individual which can be referred to as chronic stress then, it will have opposite effects. Long term stress releases a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is also called the stress harmone. This stress hormone induces craving for eating. The cortisol craving will be for salty and sweet food. This is also referred as emotional eating. Whenever we consume food when it is not relating to hunger it gets stored as unwanted weight or unhealthy weight. Cortisol plays a major role in the accumulation of fat especially in the abdominal region.

When you hit cortisol craving do not immediately go for chemical support. As you can notice that the source of the problem is of emotional nature it will be more effective to deal with your psychology and attain emotional balance. Here more than consulting a weight loss consultant you need to get help from a stress management specialist.