A weight loss researcher from the Garvan Institute has revealed that stress can significantly impact your weight, particularly when it’s long-term stress caused by issues such as job or relationship problems.
When you’re stressed, your body releases stress hormones, including cortisol and neuropeptide Y. Cortisol has a direct effect on fat cells, especially in the abdominal area. During stress, the adrenal glands trigger a fight or flight response, sending signals to cortisol receptors in the abdominal tissue, causing them to absorb more fat. Additionally, cortisol increases your cravings for high-fat, high-sugar foods and stimulates the hypothalamus, which increases hunger and leads to overeating.
Neuropeptide Y also contributes to weight gain by acting directly on fat cells, encouraging the formation of new blood vessels, which supports the development and growth of fat cells.
When stress becomes chronic, the body remains in a constant state of panic, slowing down the metabolism, increasing cravings, and promoting fat storage.
There are ways to combat this, such as vigorous exercise, which releases endorphins that help to reduce stress hormones and promote a sense of calm. Other solutions include taking breaks or vacations, learning time-management skills, and addressing the root causes of relationship stress.
In addition, new research on mice suggests that gut bacteria play a significant role in weight gain. The study found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet changes the composition of gut bacteria, making it easier to gain weight and harder to lose. According to research published in Science Translational Medicine, these changes can occur within just 24 hours.
The human gut relies on bacteria to convert otherwise indigestible food into usable nutrients. About 90 percent of these bacteria belong to two groups: Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Previous studies showed that obese mice had higher levels of Firmicutes, while lean mice had more Bacteroidetes. Firmicutes are more efficient at digesting food, meaning they extract more calories from the same amount of food.
The study revealed that when gut bacteria from a lean human donor were transplanted into mice, the mice had higher levels of Bacteroidetes. However, just 24 hours after switching to a high-sugar, high-fat diet, the balance reversed, with Firmicutes dominating.
This indicates that animals with higher Firmicutes levels extract more calories from food, making it easier to gain weight.
