Stress and Weight Loss
 Stress has a varying affect on weight for everyone, and sometimes this can mean weight loss. While stress is more commonly blamed for weight gain, there is still a strong physical and psychological connection between stress and weight loss.
Some of the reasons that stress can cause weight loss are:
- Loss of appetite - When we are presented with a stressor, the primal response is called "fight or flight". You either face your stressor head on, or you flee. This instinct is deep rooted in our brains for our ancient ancestors; however, the stressors have dramatically changed. Stress can cause weight loss because our brains prioritize our needs, and appetite becomes temporarily suppressed to allow us to deal with what is challenging us. Since stressors these days are rarely physical, we tend to think about them for long periods of time, causing a delayed response to restore appetite in some cases.
- Hyperactive thyroid - Stress can sometimes cause an overactive thyroid. Though it is rare, this condition suppresses appetite and causes you to burn more fat and calories than normal.
- Eating disorders - Often used as a coping mechanism for stress in some people, eating disorders can develop when a person is dealing with long-term stress. Not eating enough may give the person under stress the illusion of control in a situation in which they otherwise feel helpless.
These are a few of the situations in which stress can cause weight loss. If you are under stress and have noticed you are losing weight, it is important to speak with your health care provider in order to address the situation and create a treatment plan to allow you to regain your health, both mentally and physically.
|
