Stress without physical activity””Only gain weight
If you are constantly under severe stress, you will binge eat in one go or look for sweet food. Experts say that when we are stressed, the stress hormones released in our body create an appetite. This kind of appetite can cause gluttony, and eventually cause problems in the body, such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Learn about the causes and prevention of stress-induced binge eating that threatens your health.
◆ The cause of binge eating, the stress hormone cortisol
When you are put in a stressful situation, your brain detects a threat and sends a signal to your body to release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. At first, you can’t think of food because your body instinctively solves the situation with a threat reaction, such as fighting or running away.
When a stressful situation remains high in intensity for a long time, it signals you to eat foods high in cortisol to store energy. Research over the years has shown that after a difficult morning meeting or meeting with a disgruntled customer, office workers are more likely to consume something sweet like chocolate.
◆ As a result of binge eating, from abdominal obesity to diabetes and heart disease
Stress-induced binge eating occurs because the brain sends signals to satisfy physical and mental demands. These signals work well when we are physically very demanding and require a lot of energy to accomplish difficult tasks.
If you are sitting in a chair and are pressed for deadlines, or in a stressful situation where there is no physical activity, such as a long meeting, it does not work well. This is because binge eating under stress is associated with weight, such as abdominal obesity and increased subcutaneous fat. This increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
◆ Prevention of binge eating, find a way to relieve stress for 5 minutes before eating
Experts say to take 5 minutes before eating something to relieve stress. I’m not saying you shouldn’t eat it. It’s a good idea to find other ways to relieve stress on your own. Taking a walk, listening to your favorite music, or basking in the sun is a way to get away from stress and divert your attention to the other side. It is also good to focus on breathing for a while in a quiet place.
This method serves to buy time for the stress hormones to finish working in the body. This is because hormonal compulsive binge eating tends to follow a periodic cycle in which the urge momentarily becomes stronger and then weakens again. The strong urge weakens again, and when the action of the stress hormone is over, it returns to its usual state.
