Being stressed leads brain to crave more comfort foods: study

ISLAMABAD: During times of high stress many people eat more than usual commonly referred to as stress eating. While it’s okay to indulge every now and then it can become a problem if food frequently becomes a source of comfort in response to stress.

According to a new study published in the journal Neuron June 8 stress paired with high calorie comfort food results in brain changes that cause more eating and increase cravings for sweet satiating food. Over time this can cause weight gain.

Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research discovered that stress took over the brain s typical reaction to satiety which resulted in the continuous activation of reward signals that led to consuming foods that are more palatable.

We showed that chronic stress combined with a high calorie diet can drive more and more food intake as well as a preference for sweet highly palatable food thereby promoting weight gain and obesity. This research highlights how crucial a healthy diet is during times of stress Professor Herbert Herzog senior author of the study and Visiting Scientist at the Garvan Institute said in a news release.

The connection between stress and craving comfort food When we experience stress our body releases stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol can increase our appetite and drive cravings for calorie dense comfort foods particularly those high in sugar and fat said Dr. Johannes Uys a General Practitioner at Broadgate General Practice based in London. Uys was not involved in the study.These types of food activate the reward center of the brain. Eating while stressed can create unhealthy associations. In other words if you are less stressed after eating certain foods you’re more likely to continue with that behavior in the future. High calorie comfort foods activate reward centers in the brain triggering the release of feel good chemicals like dopamine.