Chronic stress makes junk food alluring

November 3, 12:58 PMNutrition ExaminerAnnie Kay

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Many people eat more when they're stressed. Others eat less and lose weight.

But according to Stone Hearth News, people under chronic stress are more likely than others to say they eat fattening foods and feel that their eating is out of control, according to a study presented at a recent meeting of the Obesity Society.

In one of the largest surveys ever to examine the relationship between chronic stress and eating behaviors, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco questioned more than 600 women who were overweight or obese about their eating habits and life stressors.

The women were categorized as having chronic stress if they had ongoing stressful situations such as being unable to pay their rent or mortgage; feeling stuck in a job they don't like; having a spouse or partner who expects too much of them or doesn't understand them; having a child who isn't doing well in school; or acting as a family caregiver for someone in poor health.

The researchers found that people who had greater chronic stress were more likely than the other survey participants to say they ate high-fat foods and felt they lacked control over their eating and hunger.
 

Here is the USA Today article on the study.