Stress is very harmful for your overall health. It is also known to be a major reason behind rapid weight loss. But how much of it is true? Does stress causes weight loss or is it just a myth? Can it cause weight gain? Let’s have a look.
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Depression, stress, and weight loss
First you have to understand that depression is a major reason behind weight loss. But as many people assume, depression is not directly related to stress. Therefore, stress is not directly related to weight loss. Here’s a simple explanation to make things clear:
Stress management is crucial for healthy living. According to Daniel Hall-Flavin, “Chronic stressful life situations can increase the risk of developing depression if you aren’t coping with the stress well. There’s also increasing evidence of links among poor coping, stress and physical illness.”
Depression doesn’t have stress as its only and most prominent reason.
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Stress facilitates unintentional weight loss
If you’re not coping well with your stress, you can eventually end up losing weight. It is known as unintentional or unexplained weight loss. If you’re not trying to lose weight and yet your body is shelling considerable pounds over time, it can be a matter to look into.
Discuss with your doctor and check up with a psychologist to better understand your specific problem because each patient deserves a unique treatment. Stress can sometimes cause notable weight loss. People sometimes also complaint of weight gains with stress.
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Weight gain with stress
The prime reason behind that is stress fat. This problem is actually the reverse of weight loss due to stress. Some people try out food as a social alternative to beating stress. Along the way, they forget to keep a proper diet and nutritional value in their food decreases rapidly. This leads to weight gain.
Due to stress, it’s common for the body to release adrenaline because your body practically enters a “fight or flee” mode and makes everything look like a life or death situation (we’re all familiar with that adrenaline drive). Adrenaline release automatically triggers the brain to send messages to replenish lost energy. But here’s the catch: in stress, we don’t really always fight or flee. Therefore, actually you’re not losing any energy!
The message from brain couldn’t be avoided and you resort to eating. So although you didn’t lose any energy – you began eating. That’s what leads to weight gain from stress.
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How stress causes weight loss
If you’re feeling depressed, it’s just natural that you can experience a loss in appetite. Stress and anxiety are powerful reasons for unintentional weight loss. The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists “Feeling depressed” as the top cause for unintentional weight loss.
Stress, and especially long-term stress, cause a whole trainload of health problems that all lead to weight loss in some way or the other.
The veteran non-profit organization HelpGuide underlines some serious such problems: “Long-term exposure to stress can lead to … raised blood pressure, suppressed immune system, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, contribution to infertility, and sped up aging.”
Although stress is a fluctuating problem that has varying results like you could either eat too much or too less, you could either sleep too much or too little, but there’s a consensus among the doctors and physicians that stress can cause weight loss.
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Controlling stress-based weight loss
Finally, if you’re experiencing weight loss due to increased stress, it’s time to start working on your daily schedule.
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Prioritize a healthy and nutritious diet.
A good diet is central to keeping your body fit and stress out of it. Analyze what’s best for you and accordingly define a diet you should be working on. Don’t worry about weight loss (or weight gain). Take help from your physician for deciding on a perfect diet.
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Socialize and network with people.
Socializing with people is extremely important. No, Facebook isn’t a good alternative. Go out, meet people, and share your problems and life events with them. Find old friends and maybe plan on meeting somebody you haven’t seen for a while, like distant relatives.
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Break down the causes of your stress and tackle each segment.
People, work, financial situation, etc. are main reasons of stress. Besides unproductive self-talking, try to figure out the exact problem. Avoid worrying over things and think on ways how can you correct the situation.
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Try to exercise.
Exercising is important for staying fit, relaxed, and getting rid of depression. A little morning walk or a rigorous workout in gym could be exceptionally beneficial.
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Set apart time for personal, home-based relaxation.
Nothing beats home remedies for relaxation. Give time to proper sleep, stay calm, and visit places. Such relaxation kills depression best.
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Try to cut down your pressures: responsibilities, emotional attachment, pessimism, negative thoughts, unrealistic judgments, and so on.
You should work towards the roots of your stress. All these things make you a weaker human being and you don’t want that, do you?
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Give it time because time heals all wounds.
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