Health 09:31 15/07/2014

Stress eating linked to 11-pound weight gain a year, study shows

Stress eating tends to be associated with reaching for high-fat comfort foods that everybody knows are unhealthy. But it’s not just the calories consumed during stress eating that negatively impact one’s weight— stress itself could be throwing off metabolism, too, FoxNews.com reports. 

In new study from The Ohio State University (OSU), researchers found that women who experienced stress in the previous 24 hours burned 104 fewer calories than non-stressed women in the time after eating a high-fat meal— which adds up to the equivalent of 11 pounds gained annually.

“We figured stress and depression alter so much in our lives, physiologically, but no one has really looked at metabolism, so it was an interesting opportunity to see how they might affect the metabolic process,” Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at OSU, told FoxNews.com.

For the study, 58 women with an average age of 53 were given three standardized meals the previous day and then were instructed to fast for 12 hours before reporting for their study visit. Then, on the day of the study, the women were fed a meal consisting of eggs, turkey sausage, biscuits and gravy. The meal, which was 60 percent fat, was the equivalent of a fast food meal of a loaded two-patty hamburger and French fries. Each of the participants went through with the experiment two times.

“It’s really the equivalent of grabbing a fast food meal,” Kiecolt-Glaser, also director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine at OSU, said. “When people are stressed, depressed and in a hurry, we don’t usually reach for broccoli unless it has a lot of hollandaise on it.”

After the women ate their meals, they sat in semi-reclined beds for the following seven hours, while researchers monitored their resting metabolic rate, or resting energy expenditure, which had also been measured prior to eating. Resting energy expenditure, when the body is not in motion, accounts for 65 to 75 percent of the calories the body burns in a day. Additionally, ten percent of a person’s daily calories are burned by digesting food. Daily activities, not including heavy exercise, account for another 15 to 25 percent of daily calorie burn, Kiecolt-Glaser said.

“Resting energy expenditure is a really big deal because it’s a large portion of our daily energy expenditure,” she said.

Before each round of the experiment, study participants also filled out a daily inventory of stressful events (DISE) test, which objectively measures stress levels. The most reported issues were interpersonal problems, such as trouble with children, work-related pressures or disagreements with spouses.

“These are things that tend to be the most stressful for people,” Kiecolt-Glaser said. “And I think people are still thinking about things and remembering them and still dealing with them [the next day.]”

The DISE test revealed that 31 participants reported experiencing at least one stressor before one round of the experiment, 21 participants reported experiencing at least one stressor before both rounds and six women reported no stressors.

Analyzing the DISE results and resting metabolic rate measures, researchers found that women who had at least one stressor in the previous 24 hours burned 104 fewer calories than women who reported no stressors the day before. They also found that women who had reported stressors showed a higher rise in insulin levels following the meal. Previous research suggests that stress and depression may promote insulin resistance and the data from this experiment shows one mechanism through which that could occur, researchers said.

Kiecolt-Glaser noted that while it’s likely that most people don’t experience a stressor every day, the potential for stressors to cause weight gain is still significant.

“If you experience a stressor one-third of the time, that would still be between 3 and 4 pounds gained. It could still over time contribute if you’re eating a high-fat meal,” she said.

During the study, researchers also analyzed the metabolic impact of a high-fat meal made with saturated fat, compared to one made with sunflower oil, which contains monounsaturated fat. Looking at metabolic outcomes and inflammatory consequences, they found little difference between the two types of fat.

Researchers concluded that their findings should offer motivation for people to keep healthful foods nearby at all times.

“When you’re feeling stressed and depressed, really keep an eye on what you might be reaching for as your first choice. Keep healthy snacks in the fridge that you can grab easily because those are the times you are less likely to want to prepare something,” Kiecolt-Glaser said. “People can’t easily avoid stress in their lives… but it’s recognizing it and trying to change behavior around it.”

The researched was published in Biological Psychiatry. 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

11:00
Greta Thunberg arrives In Armenia, boycotting COP29 In Baku
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Armenia on Tuesday after announcing a boycott of the COP29 UN climate summit in...
17:00
Rain, snow expected in Armenia on Tuesday
Rain and snow are expected in some parts of Armenia on Tuesday and over the weekend. Clear weather is forecast for the next three days....
16:45
Melania Trump expected to skip White House meeting with Jill Biden
Melania Trump is not expected to attend the traditional White House meeting with first lady Jill Biden, CNN reported, citing sources...
16:31
Urartu names new director
FC Urartu has named Davit Shakhbagyan as the club’s new general director. The specialist has been part of the club since 2015, it said...
16:06
Ruling party blocks statement on Armenian prisoners
The parliamentary faction of Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party on Tuesday blocked a statement demanding the release of...
15:30
Negotiations with Snoop Dogg continue for Yerevan concert, ministry says
The new date for the concert of famous American rapper Snoop Dogg in Yerevan remains unknown. The concert, which was initially scheduled for...
15:02
India reportedly ships first Akash air defence missile system battery to Armenia
India marks another milestone in its defence export as it shipped the first Akash weapon system battery to Armenia. This is the second missile...
14:34
Trump picks Kristi Noem as his Homeland Security secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN...
14:15
Four arrested after raids at Yerevan district administration
Four people, including officials, were arrested on Tuesday after law-enforcement authorities raided Yerevan's Kentron district...
13:36
Armenian Foreign Ministry explains Mirzoyan's statement on customs simplifications with Azerbaijan
At the ministerial meeting of the 3+3 regional consultative platform held in Istanbul on October 18, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan...
13:08
Bitcoin tops $89,000
Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally took the digital asset past $89,000 and lifted the overall value of the crypto market above its...
12:36
Armenia sees rise in pneumonia mortality rate
World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on November 12 to raise awareness about pneumonia, a life-threatening but preventable and...
12:13
Opposition urges parliament majority to join statement on Armenian prisoners
The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem factions in the Armenian parliament have initiated a special sitting on the issue of Armenian prisoners...
11:36
Presidential office denies reports of Vahagn Khachaturyan's hospitalization
The Armenian presidential office has denied reports about President Vahagn Khachaturyan’s hospitalization. “Reports alleging...
11:15
WCC, World Evangelical Alliance and global partners call for immediate release of Armenian prisoners
The World Evangelical Alliance, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC), Christian Solidarity International, and a coalition...
11:00
Michel, Aliyev discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization
European Council President Charles Michel discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev....
17:17
Armenia wins six medals at World Sambo Championships
Armenian sambo fighters captured six medals, including two silver and four bronze, at the 2024 World Sambo Championships held in Astana,...
16:57
Azerbaijani regime ethnically cleansed Nagorno-Karabakh, new report says
The Azerbaijani regime engaged in ethnic cleansing against the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a report released...
16:36
Armenian church leader off to India
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Monday travelled to India on a patriarchal visit at the invitation of the church department of Kolkata...
16:16
Deputy FM: Yerevan, Baku still disagree on some issues
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan says that differences remain with Azerbaijan over the draft text of a peace treaty....
15:32
Armenian MP: Azerbaijan toughened rhetoric ahead of COP29
Azerbaijan’s rhetoric has significantly toughened ahead of COP29, Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan says. “Its causes are...
15:14
Georgia president calls for fresh parliamentary elections
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on Monday called for fresh parliamentary elections to resolve a crisis sparked by last month's vote...
14:50
Armenian Interior Ministry suspends surveillance bill
The Armenian Interior Ministry has suspended a bill on the mandatory installation of video surveillance systems with 24-hour police access...
14:15
Armenian GM beats Azeri rival at European Individual Chess Championship
The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 is being held in Petrovac, Montenegro from 7-20 November. After 3 rounds, GM Robert...
13:59
Armenian parliament commission's report on 2020 war probe ready, senior MP says
The Armenian parliament commission has completed its report on the outcome of a probe into the circumstances of the 2020 Artsakh war, senior...
13:20
Trump plans to return bust of Winston Churchill to White House
Donald Trump has vowed to return a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office as a 'mark of respect', the Daily Mail reports....
13:05
Numerous archaeological materials found at excavations in Armenia's Ohanavan
Excavations have resumed at the newly-discovered early medieval rock-hewn tomb in the Ohanavan community of Armenia's Aragatsotn Province...
12:46
Australia plans social media ban for children under 16
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday what he called a "world-leading" plan to implement a social media ban...
12:36
Armenia's Arsen Khandzhian wins silver at World Sambo Championships
Armenian sambo fighter Arsen Khandzhian captured a silver medal at the 2024 World Sambo Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan,...
12:23
Junior Eurovision: Armenia's Leo had his first rehearsal
Armenia's delegate Leo had his first rehearsal at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Madrid on Sunday. Leo was joined on stage...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}