How Stress Sabotages Your Weight Loss Efforts

Stress from work and other obligations seems unavoidable. There are strategies to reduce stress, such as meditation and exercise, but our complicated lives always give us more things to worry about. If you are having difficulty losing weight, stress may be holding you back. In this post, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas discusses how stress sabotages your weight loss efforts.

Boosts Cortisol

Your body releases cortisol when you are experiencing stress. Cortisol is a signal to your body to conserve energy to hold on to fat reserves, which can cause weight gain. Cortisol also increases inflammation throughout the body, which can result in even more weight gain. And, cortisol affects your hunger hormones, causing you to feel hungrier when you are feeling stressed.

Leads to Overeating

Many people have experienced food cravings when they are under stress. These cravings may not actually be caused by hunger. Instead, they may be a result of other emotions, such as anger or depression. When there are events in your life that seem to be out of your control, finding comfort in something you can control (what you eat) can be comforting. For some people, eating may be the only thing in their life that they feel they have total control over, and they use eating as a way to feel better.

Causes Guilt about Being Overweight

If you’ve been overweight or obese for a long time, you’ve probably made several unsuccessful attempts at losing weight. Ironically, the guilt you feel from failing to reach your goals may actually cause you to gain even more weight. The classic example of this occurs when someone “gives up” on a diet by binging on unhealthy food. If your friends and family have admonished you for failing to lose weight, you may feel ashamed of your situation, which can further increase stress.

Learn If Weight Loss Surgery Is Right for You

At Advanced Surgicare, we offer weight loss solutions to people who have been unable to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. If you are concerned about the increased health risks of obesity and ready to make a change, give us a call to schedule a one-on-one consultation. Dr. Kuzinkovas will explain which weight loss options are the best fit for your unique situation. Schedule an appointment today by calling 1300 551 533.