You just came back from lunch so you know you can't be hungry. Yet, you are reaching for a bag of chips or a bar of chocolate as you prepare to work on a project which has been causing you stress and anxiety.
Most of us tend to overeat when we're feeling stressed or under a lot of pressure. When under long periods of stress, our bodies produce cortisol, a hormone (荷尔蒙) that causes hunger. In addition, the hormone causes our bodies to react favorably when we consume (消耗) foods that are high in fat or sugar, or both. These foods, known as comfort foods, do control stress in the short term, which explains why many of us desire for them.
Stress eating may be a conscious (有意识的) or unconscious decision, but it does pose (引起) several problems.
Physicalhealthconcernsaboutstresseating
Consuming an unnecessary number of unhealthy foods that are high in fat and sugar will contribute to weight gain. What's worse, it can lead to various chronic health illnesses such as high blood pressure.
Emotionalconcernsaboutseekingcomfortfoods
However, it does not actually solve your problems. Instead of looking for practical solutions to a stressful situation, your attention is focused on getting quick relief with food. These short-term relief measures may actually be translated into a long-term emotional burden and affect your mental health.
Mentalhealthconcernsaboutanxietyeating
Eating to deal with stress and anxiety can easily become an unhealthy habit and may even lead to eating disorders. If left unchecked, stress eating may progress to binge-eating disorder. However, it is neither a healthy nor a permanent solution to a stressful situation. There are still many other methods of helping you fight stress and anxiety without sacrificing (牺牲) your physical and mental well-being.
A. That's stress eating.
B. This poses a risk of being overweight.
C. This affects a person's food preferences.
D. Stress eating can provide relief in times of stress.
E. Stress eating can provide emotional and mental comfort.
F. Seeking comfort in food may give you short-term stress relief.
G. It doesn't work for the benefit of your body shapes in the long term, though.
