STRESSORS INTERFERE WITH METABOLIC RATE AND INCREASE BLOOD INSULIN LEVELS

An interesting new study has found that increased stress levels take a toll on metabolic rate.  The recent study included 58 women, with an average age 53, who were asked about their stress levels the previous day and then given a meal that included 930 calories and 60 grams of fat. After the meal, participants’ metabolic rate was tested for 20 minutes of every hour for the next seven hours.   Researchers also measured blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, insulin and the stress hormone cortisol.  On average, the women in the study who reported one or more stressors during the previous 24 hours burned 104 fewer calories than non-stressed women in the seven hours after eating the high-fat meal -- a difference that could result in weight gain of almost 11 pounds in one year.  The women who had experienced a previous day stressor also had higher levels  blood insulin after the meal.  When there are excess levels of insulin nutrients are less likely to be used for fuel and more likely to be stored as fat.   

There is ample evidence that persons who are chronically stressed are more likely to have unhealthy weight gain.  Much of this gain has been attributed to emotional eating.  Previous studies have shown that when individuals are stressed they tend to crave foods high in carbohydrates and fat -- comfort foods.  While food choices often do become less healthy in times of stress, this study, though small, also demonstrates there is a direct metabolic cost to being stressed.    

What to do:  Knowing that stress interferes with our metabolism, it is all the more important to make healthier decisions in times of stress.   While we cannot always avoid stressors, we can work to make our food environment supportive.  By keeping healthy options available, we are more likely to ride out stressful times without resorting to poor food choices.  We can also work to develop non-food based coping strategies such as journaling, mindful breathing, and physical activity.

Adapted from articles available at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_147297.html

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/releases/Pages/Stress-and-High-Fat-Foods.aspx

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140714100128.htm

Source:

Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Habash DL, Fagundes CF, Andridge R, Peng J, Malarkey WB, Belury MA. Daily stressors, past depression, and metabolic responses to high-fat meals: a novel path to obesity. Biological Psychiatry, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.05.018