Stress = Fat = More Stress

Published on: October 4, 2003

by Kevin Coupe

Y'know that feeling you get when the world seems to be pressing in on your head, and you get that craving for what generally is known as comfort food?

Well, as it ends up, there is a scientific study out that suggests that this isn't just psychological. A study done by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) says that foods that are rich in sugar, fat, and calories actually seem to calm the body's response to stress.

Of course, the problem with this is that, especially in today's fat-conscious environment, eating such foods can also make you gain weight, which makes you feel stressed out, which makes you crave comfort food, which makes you eat, which well, you get the picture.

And there's more not-so-comforting news related to fat and stress. The UCSF study also has found that the hormones created by stress actually create fat cells - even without eating!

So, when you add those stress-created fat cells to the fat generated by indulging in comfort foods, it is no wonder that in our stress-filled world that people are gaining weight right and left.

They almost can't help it.

One important note: The scientists doing this research say that the link between fat and stress isn't exclusive, and that there are a multitude of reasons that people overeat. Stress is just one of them. But in modern day America, it happens to be a particularly intriguing one.

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