Stress can slow a woman's metabolism
and lead to weight gain, new research suggests.
The study included 58 women, average age 53,
who were asked about their stress levels the
previous day and then given a meal that included
930 calories and 60 grams of fat. The Ohio State
University researchers measured how long it took
the women to burn off those calories and fat.
On average, women who had one or more
stressful events during the previous 24 hours
burned 104 fewer calories in the seven hours after
eating the meal than those who were stress-free.
On a daily basis, that difference could add up to a
weight gain of nearly 11 pounds a year, the
researchers said.
The stressed women also had higher levels of the
hormone insulin, which contributes to the storage
of fat, according to the study, published in the
latest issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Stressors and weight gain
The findings show that "over time, stressors could
lead to weight gain", study lead author Janice
Kiecolt-Glaser, a professor of psychiatry and
psychology, said in a university news release.
"We know from other data that we're more likely
to eat the wrong foods when we're stressed, and
our data say that when we eat the wrong foods,
weight gain becomes more likely because we are
burning fewer calories," she said.
Previous studies have found that people who are
under stress or have other mood problems are at
increased risk for becoming overweight or obese.
The new findings suggest one reason for that
possible connection, Kiecolt-Glaser and her
colleagues said.
Make healthier food choices
"We know we can't always avoid stressors in our
life, but one thing we can do to prepare for that is
to have healthy food choices in our refrigerators
and cabinets so that when those stressors come
up, we can reach for something healthy rather
than going to a very convenient but high-fat
choice," study co-author Martha Belury, a
professor of human nutrition, said in the news
release.
The study suggested a connection between stress
and weight gain, but it did not prove such a link
exists.

Its only whites o! Stress in Africa would suck the hell out of the weight you have and people would think you've got hiv