Everyone’s talking about: Stress and weight

It’s long been believed that stress makes people lose weight – but a new trial from the US’s Ohio State University has shown that’s not always true.

The study measured the metabolism of a group of women all eating the same high fat meal. In theory all of them should have burned calories at the same rate (depending on their personal body weight) but the researchers found those who had experienced at least one stressful event in the 24 hours beforehand burned fewer.

Body fat storage

A staggering 104 calories fewer in fact – something the researchers say could lead to an 11lb weight gain over a year. They also had higher levels of insulin – which encourages fat storage and less fat oxidation a process that makes fat more likely to be used as fuel (and less likely to be stored round your hips or tummy).

The other interesting thing about this was how small the ‘stressor’ were – the researchers reported things like arguments with a partner, work stress or a problems with the kids. The type of thing all of us face day in, day out. So what to do?

Well as the experts put it, we can’t avoid stress but we can prepare for it by having fast, healthy meals in the house ready for days when pressure strikes. This stops us reaching for convenience foods like takeaways that could tip us over our healthy calorie intake and make that metabolism drop – matter.

So what to do? Well, as the experts put it, we can’t avoid stress – but we can prepare for it by having fast, healthy meals in the house ready for days when pressure strikes. This stops us reaching for convenience foods like takeaways that could tip us over our healthy calorie intake and make that metabolism drop – matter.

If you’ve got a busy time coming up at work, maybe place an order for your Purition shakes now!

Find out more about using Purition for weight loss.