Reaching for high-calorie foods and alcoholic beverages during stressful times puts a person at risk for obesity, says a recent study published in the journal Preventive Medicine.
Finnish researchers interviewed over 5,000 31-year-old men and women about the types and amounts of food they ate, stresses in their lives, the emotional support they received from friends and family members and their work and marital histories.
People who ate because of stress tended to have a higher body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fatness. They were also more likely to eat foods that tend to be high in fat, such as sausages, hamburgers, pizza and chocolate and were also more likely to consume alcohol.
The next time you feel emotionally stressed, don't reach for foods high in calories and fat. Instead, try calling a friend for emotional support or exercising to alleviate some of your anxiety.
Sources: Laitinen J, Ek E, Sovio U. Stress-Related Eating and Drinking Behavior and Body Mass Index and Predictors of This Behavior. Preventive Medicine, Volume 34, Number 1, January 2002.
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