If you are gaining weight and are unsure of the reasons why then your lifestyle may be to blame.  Prolonged stress has been linked to an increase in appetite, while short term stress has been known to cause a temporary decrease in appetite.  The issue resides in the neuroendocrine system which activates a series of hormones when we feel threatened.  Some of these hormones include adrenaline which gives us an instant energy and cortisol which decreases appetite at first but doesn’t last long. 

Cortisol is also called the stress hormone and its main job is to replenish the body after stress has passed and lingers long after, causing you to over indulge.  We are all well aware that stress is the root of all evil, but it is also one of the major contributing factors to weight gain in the mid section, which is always attractive.   Fat cells in the abs are linked to diabetes and heart disease.  It also alters blood sugar levels causing mood swings, fatigue, and hyperglycemia to name a few.

The fuel our muscles need during fight or flight is sugar which is why we eat carbohydrates when we are stressed.  Stress causes impulses to do something, to be constantly moving and eating often becomes that activity because it’s comforting and simple to do.  After stressful events, cortisol tells you to eat high carbohydrate foods.  Your body gets used to it and you develop a behavioral response to repeat that action whenever you feel the same tension.  Increased cortisol levels also make us crave unhealthy food. 

Excess nervous energy can cause you to eat more than you normally would.  It is also more difficult to diet.  More obesity is partly due to the result of high stress and busy schedules.  We do not have time to make healthy dinners at home; therefore we stop at fast food places on the way to and from work.  We are also too busy to exercise with our long commutes and long working hours.  These are some of the many reasons why we need to lower tension in our daily lives.