Is stress making us fat?

Exercise
According to Peeke, the body assumes that you will follow elevated cortisol levels with physical activity. ‘But nowadays most of us don’t do anything physical – most of our stresses are intellectual,’ she says. You can beat stress and high cortisol with exercise, which raises levels of beta-endorphins, the feelgood hormones that counteract the negative effects of stress hormones. A moderate regime includes some physical activity 3–5 times a week for at least 20 minutes each time. Consult your GP or trainer before starting a new exercise routine.

Stress management techniques
Exercise is an excellent way to manage stress but you can also try taking some deep breaths when you feel stress coming on, or concentrating on something you enjoy, such as planning your holiday or spending time with your partner or family.

Peeke also suggests learning the fine art of regrouping: ‘If something gets thrown at you from left field, simply go from plan A to C if you have to.’ Similarly, learning to be stress-resilient, or bouncing with the unexpected rather than mulling it over endlessly in your mind, is key. Writing in a journal can be an especially effective way to keep stress in check, she says. And when there’s nothing else you can do in an anxiety-provoking situation, simply get up and move; it will help distract you.

Most of all, remember that stress is temporary. Keep in mind, too, that to a great extent genetics determine our predisposition to weight gain and body type, so do the best you can. After all, managing stress shouldn’t be just another source of stress in your life.

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