I
thought this article promoted the importance of exercise and
relaxation (the "WHY" it's important as I always
say). Diet alone doesn't do it especially when high levels
of stress is involved. Can I blame this on my layer of "cush"?
How
Stress Makes You Flabby
Michael O'Shea from PARADE
December 2, 2007
Most of us have long suspected
a connection between stress and weight gain, but the relationship
was largely thought to be psychological. In fact, emotional
eating is one of the major causes of weight gain. For many
people, the first response to feeling overwhelmed is to reach
for food. And let's be honest, changes are you're going for
comfort food high in sugar or fat, not a bag of carrots. Add
in the fact that when you're busy, the first thing to go by
the wayside is exercise, and you've got a recipe for diet
disaster.
The Relaxation Solution
Guess what? The link between stress and weight gain is much
stronger than originally thought. New research suggests an
actual physiological reason that people under stress tend
to gain weight. A recent study by Georgetown University Medical
Center showed that mice under stress gain extra weight even
if their calorie intake doesn't go up. The study's senior
author, Dr. Zofia Zukowska, says, "By three months, they
became twice as obese as mice without stress, even when they
ate the same amount of food. Stress seems to release a chemical
reaction that triggers fat cells to grow and multiply in number."
To make matters worse, the extra pounds causes by stress tend
to be stored around the belly. Though they aren't yet sure
of the precise reasons for this, Dr. Zukowska says, "Researchers
suspect that tress and diet stimulate an enzyme present in
particularly high amounts in the abdominal fat." This
is the most dangerous place for fat to end up in people, since
it increases the risk of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.
It’s Not Just What You Eat
More research is under way, but in the meantime, Dr Zukowska
says, "paying attention to the fact that stress may amplify
weight gain means it's important to include relaxation therapy
as part of any weight-loss program. Exercise remains one of
the most effective antidotes, because it lowers stress hormones.
Even a 15-minute walk can help break the cycle." You
also may want to incorporate yoga, meditation or any activity
you find calming into your routine.
