How Stress Affects Weight Loss

Today we are going to look at how stress can affect weight loss.

For many of us, daily life is often a juggle, as we try to keep many balls up in the air at once. All this ‘juggling’ can contribute to feelings of stress, tension and anxiety. Unfortunately, too much stress can actually reduce your ability to burn fat and lose weight.

How Stress Affect Weight Loss

Stress affects your body by increasing cortisol levels; Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, high oestrogen levels, and nutritional deficiencies. Cortisol is often referred to as the body’s ‘stress hormone’. Increased cortisol levels can adversely affect blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and can stop you from burning fat.

This is because cortisol stimulates the release of insulin, the hormone which plays an important role in maintaining blood sugar levels.

This increased release of insulin often tends to encourage people to overeat and crave foods high in carbohydrates and fats. When you increase your consumption of these foods it directly causes weight gain.

So you want to have ways to manage stress. This can then help reduce excessive cortisol and stop the resultant insulin resistance and obesity. You’ll notice less deposition of fatty tissue, particularly in the abdominal region.

So if you believe stress is a contributing factor in slowing down your weight loss, talk to Glenda Johnson, a naturopath at Your Wellness Centre, ring 9879 9596 or contact us here.

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