Stress: how does it affect fat gain? Stressful situations follow a person everywhere and hurt the body. Find out how stress affects fat gain. The human body has very complex mechanisms for dealing with stressful situations. It starts when there is stress, whether a life threat or a financial problem. Throughout evolutionary history, this system has been improved so that humans can survive. Stressful emotions hurt all body systems.

Scientists have discovered special enzymes that are produced when stress occurs. They activate the whole body by increasing metabolism. Suppose such reactions in our ancestors led to an increased chance of survival. In that case, modern humans can develop heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure. Let’s look at how stress affects fat gain.

Effects of stress on the body

The body constantly strives to maintain the balance of all its systems. Athletes know this like no one else. When the muscles are under heavy stress, the body starts an adaptation process, which leads to an increase in muscle volume. Various chemical reactions have activated when a person’s life is threatened to help survive.

Your blood pressure increases, which leads to improved tissue nutrition, the nervous system begins to work harder, and additional energy and strength indicators increase. But in everyday life, if a person often encounters stressful situations, this can lead to the development of several diseases.

Under emotional and physical stress, the brain performs a series of actions to combat stress. At this moment, the signaling system is activated, triggering the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine. These hormones affect certain areas of the brain, thereby causing fear. The adrenal glands also produce active cortisol, which increases the body’s energy supply.

Effects of stress on lipid metabolism

If you are in stressful situations, your cortisol levels are always high. This hormone can increase insulin resistance and trigger insulin production. It increases blood pressure and calls for strategies to create fat reserves in the abdomen.

In addition, high levels of insulin and cortisol in the blood can lead to blood clots, changes in lipid balance, and increased blood pressure. When it comes to blood lipid balance, it’s about the ratio of bad to good cholesterol. Suppose the level of the former is higher. In that case, this can cause diseases of the cardiovascular system, brain diseases, and cancer.

Body fat under the influence of cortisol can increase in two ways: by increasing fat stored or affecting appetite. If the first method is the same for almost everyone, someone’s needs can decrease during stress.

This situation led to scientists not being able to understand the mechanisms of the relationship between fat production and cortisol for a long time. Many overweight people do not have a problem with high-stress hormones. Then it turned out that cortisol is produced in different amounts in everyone under stress. Here is the answer to the question: how does stress affect fat gain?

Coping with stressful situations

Experiments have shown that people’s reactions to the same stress are strictly individual. Some hardly notice it, and their defense mechanisms against stress are not activated. But others are susceptible to stressful situations, and at the slightest excuse, adrenaline and cortisol levels go off the scale. There is another group of people who have health problems.

Sports are one of the most effective ways to deal with stressful situations. It is because, during physical exertion, complex processes for the body slow down significantly. Exercise helps to optimize insulin metabolism and reduces cortisol production.

With regular exercise, insulin resistance, blood pressure decreases, the balance between good and bad cholesterol is normalized, and the amount of subcutaneous fat reduces. Without a doubt, a proper nutrition plan can help fight fat. People who are very sensitive to stressful situations consume large amounts of simple sugars. It leads to a significant jump in insulin levels and, therefore, to the creation of new fat stores.

By reducing the saturated fat in meat and milk in your diet, you can reduce the harmful effects. There are also specific stress management systems, as not all stressful situations can harm the body. 

Here are some tips you can use to manage your stress:

• Try to avoid unexpected stressful situations.
• Avoid associating with people you don’t like.
• Learn to work your time correctly, as there are many stressful situations.
• Try to be more organized and social.
• When stress arises, create a support group of people close to you.
• Learn relaxation techniques and techniques.

You can find video resources on stress management systems. Use them, but still try to reduce the likelihood of stress. Of course, this isn’t easy in modern life, but you should still strive. Your health is in your hands, don’t miss out.