Chronic stress makes you want snacks: How stress leads to excess weight gain

While it's normal for most people to eat unhealthy snacks from time to time, constantly stressed people tend to do it more often.

A new article published in Neuron claims that constant chronic stress makes you eat more "comfort food".

But why so?

The experiment

Researchers from the Garvan Institute found that stress overrides the brain's response to satiety, leading to continuous reward signals that promote overeating palatable food. 

Chronic stress, combined with a high-calorie diet, drives excessive food intake and a preference for sweet, palatable food, resulting in weight gain and obesity. 

How it works

The lateral habenula region of the brain, responsible for suppressing reward signals, remains inactive in stressed mice. 

Blocking the molecule NPY in this region reduces comfort eating and weight gain. 

Stressed mice on a high-fat diet show a threefold increase in preference for sweetened water. 

Why is it important

The study highlights the impact of stress on healthy energy balance and the importance of managing stress and maintaining a healthy diet. 

Stress is a critical regulator of eating habits, overriding the brain's ability to regulate energy needs effectively.
 

• Related news:
• overeating
• stress
• research
• science
• 15 June 2023

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