Stress and Weight Gain: How Your Emotions Affect Your Waistline

We’ve all been there—feeling overwhelmed, tense, or anxious, and suddenly reaching for that extra cookie or bag of chips. While occasional indulgence is fine, chronic stress can quietly sabotage your weight-loss goals. But why does this happen? Let’s explore the connection between stress, emotions, and weight gain. 1. The Science Behind Stress and Weight Gain When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the “stress hormone.” While it’s helpful in short bursts, prolonged high cortisol levels can: Increase cravings for high-fat, high-sugar foods Slow down your metabolism Promote fat storage, especially around the belly 2. Emotional Eating vs. Physical Hunger Stress often triggers emotional eating —eating to cope with feelings rather than to satisfy actual hunger. Signs you might be emotionally eating include: Sudden cravings for comfort foods Eating mindlessly, without paying attention to quantity Feeling guilty or unsatisfied after eating 3. Breaking the Cycle ...