Will Stress Cause Weight Loss?

Due to individual differences and the tremendous variety of ways people cope or fail to cope with life events and what we think and feel about them, there is no way to say that stress “will” cause weight loss or not; however, the possibility that it will most certainly exist for a variety of reasons.

If you are someone who has developed a habit of allowing stress to prioritize other things overeating regularly, so rather than eating three regular meals daily, you are more likely to jump ahead and start tackling your to-do list; it can most definitely be that if you continue this for a significant amount of time, losing weight will be inevitable.

Basic nutrition comes into play here, as if you reduce your regular daily caloric intake, you will most certainly experience weight loss over time.

Sometimes when people are stressed, they experience nausea due to the increased activation of neurotransmitters and hormones that impact our digestive system. This type of nausea maybe your body’s system on alert, trying to tell you that something is wrong. Here too, if you are feeling nauseous, it is more likely that you will eat less, and once again, the intake of fewer calories each day over time definitely can cause weight loss.

Sheer exhaustion is another potential effect of stress. The more fatigued we become, this too can negatively impact our daily schedule, including our eating habits and behaviors.

Lastly, many people choose to exercise to cope with stress and boost their mood when feeling stress. Although quite positive and beneficial to overall well-being, it too can be taken too far and over-done. Taken to the extreme, too much exercise can also equal too many calories burned, and if that happens, weight loss, once again, can be the outcome.

The good news is that by paying close attention to our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors when going through stressful periods, we can stay aware and mindful of extremes, including our body’s reaction to stress, and make sure that our weight is not majorly altered.