Can anxiety cause weight loss?

Anxiety is a mental health problem characterized by extreme concern. Physical symptoms may include weight changes, fatigue, muscle tension or insomnia. Cognitive and emotional symptoms, including agitation, concentration problems or irritability, and how you face these symptoms, can also affect physical health. Symptoms of anxiety can cause weight loss or unexpected gain in several ways.

Anxiety can cause unexpected weight loss in several ways, in particular through biological and behavioral mechanisms.

Research in mice shows that whatever diet, mice having higher levels of anxiety weighed less than other mice. This has been attributed to anxious mice with a hyperactive nervous system, altered metabolism and changes in the way fats have been stored in their bodies. Other research on animals show that levels of anxiety lead to higher physical activity, causing weight loss.

At a behavioral and social level, research suggests that anxiety people may tend to be perfectionists. Perfectionist trends can lead an anxious person to limit their food consumption, to choose to eat only a limited range of food or excess exercise. All of this can cause excessive weight loss.

Perfectionism or anxiety about overweight could help develop a food disorder or controlled eating habits that become harmful. Sometimes social stigma around weight and obesity can encourage people to develop anxiety, indicating that the relationship between weight and anxiety goes in both directions.

Although some people suffering from anxiety can undergo weight loss, others may undergo weight gain.

Research shows that people with anxiety may be more likely to eat non -nutritious diet, to be physically inactive or to prioritize less healthy habits than others. Certain prescription drugs for anxiety or other mental health problems can also cause weight gain.

Many people suffering from anxiety face an emotional diet or to eat in response to feeling positive or negative emotions. If these foods are rich in calories, added sugar or fat, they can cause weight gain, especially excess. Drinking more alcohol to deal with emotions can also increase your global calorie intake, contributing to weight gain.

Some people find that their anxiety limits their self-efficacy or believes that they can accomplish a specific task. This can apply to their belief in their ability to lose weight when they wish.

Biologically, chronic stress can cause hormones that regulate your appetite and your weight to deregulate, which makes your weight management more difficult.

Whether your anxiety makes you lose or gain weight, it is important to implement habits to support your mental and physical health. You can try to integrate a range of strategies that help reduce anxiety and support weight management. These may include:

• Eat a range of nutrients. Plan balanced and nutritious meals and snacks so that your choice options support your nutritional goals.
• Move your body more. Choose a form of exercise that you like and can do in a coherent way.
• See a mental health supplier. Word therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help treat and manage anxiety.
• Manage stress. Use a range of stress management techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, make a hobby that you like or spend time with dear beings.
• Sleep at least seven hours a night. Take a look at and wake up at the same time every day, and keep your room cool, dark and calm to promote regular and quality sleep.
• Find new adaptation strategies. If your adaptation strategies have an impact on how you approach food and exercise, plan to find alternative methods that support your health goals.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking. Reduce your alcohol consumption and tobacco or drug use.

Although you can take measures to manage your mental and physical health, it is important to know when to ask for help from a professional. For anxiety, if you find that you worry a lot, the symptoms have lasted more than six months and disrupt your daily life or are difficult to control, to contact a mental health supplier. If you have suicide or self -control thoughts, ask for help right away.

In terms of weight, weight loss or sudden and unexpected gain is a sign that you should visit a health care provider. They can help identify the cause of your weight change and suggest treatment if necessary.

Anxiety can have direct implications for how your body treats emotions, food and stress, leading to disorderly eating behaviors, the deregulation of hormonal and nervous systems and harmful adaptation strategies.

It is important to manage your stress and anxiety to support both your physical and mental health. If you notice that anxiety lasts more than six months or interferes with your daily activities, ask for care from a mental health supplier.