Stress and overconsumption of high-calorie, “comfort” foods promote weight gain and obesity, according to a study from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research. Researchers found that stress reduces the brain’s natural response to satiety, leading to continuous reward signals that encourage people to eat more, particularly sweet and tasty foods. These findings came from studying mouse models, which showed that stressed mice on high-fat diets gained twice as much weight as non-stressed mice on the same diet. The scientists also found that a molecule called NPY, which the brain produces in response to stress, was at the heart of weight gain. Blocking NPY from activating brain cells in the lateral habenula, a region responsible for turning off the brain’s reward response, decreased comfort food intake, resulting in less weight gain.
The researchers performed a “sucralose preference test,” which showed that stressed mice on a high-fat diet consumed three times as much artificially sweetened water as mice on a high-fat diet alone. The scientists note that stress can compromise healthy energy metabolism, emphasizing the importance of avoiding a stressful lifestyle. Furthermore, the authors suggest that people who deal with long-term stress should try to eat a healthy diet and cut out junk food.
Stress and a Healthy Diet: An In-Depth Look
Stress is ubiquitous and a reality for many. Whether it’s work pressure, relationship struggles, or financial difficulties, stress affects people’s physical and mental well-being. Eating high-calorie snacks, particularly sweet and tasty foods, can seem like a comforting option in times of stress. However, a high-calorie diet combined with stress can have detrimental effects on one’s health, according to a study from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research.
The study, conducted on mouse models, found that stress and overconsumption of high-calorie, “comfort” foods promote weight gain and obesity. The researchers found that stress diminishes the brain’s natural response to satiety, causing continuous reward signals that encourage people to eat more, particularly sugary and fatty foods. Other studies show that stress can also impair thyroid function, which plays a critical role in regulating metabolism. Therefore, it’s essential to manage stress levels to maintain a healthy weight and overall health.
Poor dietary choices, particularly high-calorie, processed foods, can further exacerbate stress and negative emotions. People tend to reach for comfort foods, such as ice cream, cookies, or french fries, during times of stress. However, these foods provide a temporary boost of pleasure, followed by a crash that can leave individuals feeling worse than before. Consuming a balanced diet that includes nutrient-dense foods, such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables, can help counteract the negative effects of stress on the body and mind.
The researchers found that a molecule called NPY, which the brain produces in response to stress, was at the heart of weight gain in the stressed mouse models. Blocking NPY from activating brain cells in the lateral habenula, a region responsible for turning off the brain’s reward response, decreased comfort food intake, resulting in less weight gain. Therefore, it may be beneficial to try stress-reducing techniques, such as meditation, exercise, or journaling, to prevent NPY levels from rising and promoting overeating.
The “sucralose preference test” revealed that stressed mice on a high-fat diet consumed three times as much artificially sweetened water than those on a high-fat diet alone. This finding suggests that stress not only promotes the consumption of “comfort” foods but also generates a craving for sweet and tasty foods specifically. To avoid reaching for sugary beverages, individuals can drink water or unsweetened tea and flavor them with lemon, ginger, or mint.
In conclusion, stress and poor dietary choices can have a detrimental impact on one’s health, particularly weight gain and obesity. To counteract these negative effects, individuals should try stress management techniques and consume a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods. Moreover, avoiding high-calorie, processed foods and opting for natural and healthy options can help regulate blood sugar levels, boost energy, and promote a healthier lifestyle. By proactively managing stress and dietary intake, individuals can take charge of their physical and mental well-being.
Summary:
Stress and overconsumption of high-calorie, “comfort” foods promote weight gain and obesity, according to a study from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research. Researchers found that stress reduces the brain’s natural response to satiety, leading to continuous reward signals that encourage people to eat more, particularly sweet and tasty foods. These findings came from studying mouse models, which showed that stressed mice on high-fat diets gained twice as much weight as non-stressed mice on the same diet. The scientists also found that a molecule called NPY, which the brain produces in response to stress, was at the heart of weight gain. Blocking NPY from activating brain cells in the lateral habenula, a region responsible for turning off the brain’s reward response, decreased comfort food intake, resulting in less weight gain. Stress not only promotes the consumption of “comfort” foods but also generates a craving for sweet and tasty foods specifically. To counteract these negative effects, individuals should try stress management techniques and consume a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods.
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When you’re stressed, a high-calorie snack can seem like a comforting option. But this combination has an unhealthy drawback. According to the Sydney scientists, stress combined with high-calorie “comfort” food creates changes in the brain that prompt people to eat more, increase cravings for sweet and very tasty foods and lead to excessive weight gain.
A team from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research found that stress overrides the brain’s natural response to satiety, leading to continuous reward signals that promote the consumption of tastier foods. This occurred in a part of the brain called the lateral habenula, which when activated usually dampens these reward signals.
“Our findings reveal that stress can override a natural brain response that decreases the pleasure gained from eating, meaning that the brain is continually rewarded for eating,” says Professor Herzog, lead author of the study and a visiting scientist at the Garvan Institute. .
“We show that chronic stress, combined with a high-calorie diet, can lead to increased food intake, as well as a preference for sweet and very tasty foods, which promotes weight gain and obesity. This research highlights how crucial a healthy diet is in times of stress.”
The research was published in the journal Neuron.
From stressed brain to weight gain
While some people eat less during times of stress, most will eat more than usual and choose high-calorie options that are high in sugar and fat.
To understand what drives these eating habits, the team investigated in mouse models how different areas of the brain responded to chronic stress under various diets.
“We found that an area known as the lateral habenula, which is normally involved in turning off the brain’s reward response, was active in mice on a short-term high-fat diet to protect the animal from overeating. However, when the When mice were chronically stressed, this part of the brain remained silent, allowing reward signals to remain active and encourage pleasure eating, no longer responding to regulatory signals of satiety,” explains first author Dr. Kenny Chi Kin Ip, of the Garvan Institute.
“We found that stressed mice on a high-fat diet gained twice as much weight as non-stressed mice on the same diet.”
The researchers found that at the heart of the weight gain was the NPY molecule, which the brain naturally produces in response to stress. When the researchers blocked NPY from activating brain cells in the lateral habenula in stressed mice on a high-fat diet, the mice consumed less comfort food, resulting in less weight gain.
Comfort when driving eating
Next, the researchers performed a ‘sucralose preference test’, allowing the mice to choose to drink water or artificially sweetened water.
“Stressed mice on a high-fat diet consumed three times as much sucralose as mice on a high-fat diet alone, suggesting that stress not only activates greater reward eating, but also specifically generates a craving for sweet and tasty foods,” says the professor. Herzog.
“Crucially, we did not see this preference for sweetened water in stressed mice that were on a regular diet.”
Stress throws off healthy energy balance
“In stressful situations, it’s easy to use up a lot of energy, and the feeling of reward can calm you down—this is when an energy boost through food comes in handy. But when experienced over long periods of time, stress seems to change the equation, fueling eating that is bad for the body in the long run,” says Professor Herzog.
The researchers say their findings identify stress as a critical regulator of eating habits that can override the brain’s natural ability to balance energy needs.
“This research emphasizes how much stress can compromise healthy energy metabolism,” says Professor Herzog. “It’s a reminder to avoid a stressful lifestyle, and more importantly, if you’re dealing with long-term stress, try to eat a healthy diet and cut out junk food.”
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608120905.htm
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