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Obesity and Stress: A Contingent Paralysis
Rupal Kumar1, Moattar Raza Rizvi2, Shubhra Saraswat3
1Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad, India.
International Journal of Preventive Medicine
|August 12, 2022
Summary
Stress and obesity create a harmful cycle, impacting cognition, behavior, and physiology. Mindfulness interventions show promise in reducing stress and abdominal fat, offering a path toward managing both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Stress and obesity are significant global health challenges.
- These conditions are interconnected through cognitive, behavioral, and physiological pathways.
- Weight stigma and social stress contribute to the obesogenic environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the cyclical relationship between stress and obesity.
- To explore the mechanisms linking stress to weight gain.
- To examine the role of psychological distress and mindfulness in obesity management.
Main Methods:
- This is a narrative review of existing literature.
- The review synthesizes findings on stress, obesity, and related physiological factors.
- It examines the impact of psychological distress and mindfulness interventions.
Main Results:
- Stress impairs self-regulation and promotes overeating of high-calorie foods.
- Stress influences hormones like leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y.
- Psychological distress and elevated cortisol are linked to increased abdominal fat; mindfulness interventions may reduce this fat.
Conclusions:
- Stress and obesity form a vicious cycle with complex interactions.
- Mindfulness training shows potential for improving eating behaviors and reducing stress markers like the cortisol awakening response (CAR).
- Understanding these links is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat obesity.
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