Will worry cause weight loss?

Worry and stress can have a direct impact on your body.  It’s tough to predict what those impacts will be, however.  Every person’s body is different, and every person’s body responds differently to worry and stress.  Stress can affect your weight.  For some people, this looks like weight loss.  If one makes experiences weight loss from stress, there are reasons for this.  When stressed or worried, your body is going into an acute stress response.  This is your body’s natural way of telling itself that there is a perceived threat.  This doesn’t have to be a physical danger.  A threat might look or feel like something that you are afraid of emotionally.  When in an acute stress response, hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are being released.  Adrenaline may decrease the want for food. Cortisol briefly stops the functioning of other dispensable functions of the body when a threat is perceived.  One of these functions is your digestive system.  Therefore, you may lose weight due to stress.  However, losing weight only happens for some people due to worry.  For others who worry, they can actually do the opposite and gain weight.

With weight loss or gain, discomfort with bodily functions due to stress has been reported by many clients.  Constipation, indigestion, or diarrhea are common.  Headaches and body aches, and pains may occur.  Worried one may notice changes in their sleep.  Problems falling asleep or staying asleep are symptoms of stress.  Other symptoms may include an increased heart rate, problems with short-term memory, and a decreased sex drive. 

When Weight Loss Or Gain Is A Problem

Though it is normal for a person’s weight to fluctuate a few pounds one way or the other, significant weight loss should be noted.  Significant weight loss is losing fifteen percent or more of your body weight in a six to twelve-month period without trying.  If this has happened, you should make an appointment with your doctor.  Other reasons to see your doctor may include:  losing weight quickly without trying, feeling irritated all the time, chest pain, chronic headaches, using substances as a way to cope or wanting to, or having thoughts of hurting yourself or others.