Does Anxiety Burn Fat

Have You Noticed Anxiety and Weight Loss? The Connection Between Anxiety And Weight Loss

By: Stephanie Kirby

Updated March 08, 2021

Medically Reviewed By: Lori Jones, LMHC

What Happens If I Can't Eat Because Of Anxiety?

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What Causes Stress or Anxiety That Affects Weight Loss?

There are two kinds of stress: immediate stress and prolonged stress. Immediate stress occurs when you're overwhelmed, surprised, or afraid. Prolonged stress occurs when ongoing stressors affect your emotional, physical, and mental health. Some things that cause prolonged stress include:

Work, employment, and career stress
Academic stress
Conflicts in personal relationships
Mental health and chronic illness
Financial stress

Each of these are examples of prolonged stress, or stress not easily resolved.

How to Manage Prolonged Stress or Anxious Thoughts

The frustrating part about prolonged stress is that you often don't know when the issues causing the stress will end. Because of this, it's important to learn two things: acceptance for things you cannot control and healthy stress management skills. Common effective stress management skills include:

Deep breathing. Concentrate on calming your mind as you take deep breaths in and out.
Light cardio exercise. Going for a brisk walk can help you manage stress more effectively without further depleting your body's needed stores of energy.
Track specific events or situations that trigger your anxiety. Keep a record of meals and caloric intake to better understand the connection.
Artistic expression. Drawing, painting, singing or playing an instrument can help you release some of that nervous energy.
Relaxing hobbies. Whether it's crocheting, hiking or singing karaoke, doing something you enjoy can help you calm your mind and quiet your nerves.
Maintaining self-care. If necessary, put a reminder in your phone to tell you when it's time to eat, bathe, or sleep. Above all, exercise basic "sleep hygiene" to ensure your body gets the rest it needs.

How to Prevent Unwanted Weight Loss

Besides identifying and treating the causes of your anxiety, there are some other strategies available to halt anxiety-induced weight loss.

1. Choose High-Protein and High-Carb Foods

Protein and carbs are the healthiest way to provide more fuel to meet the increased demands of your metabolism. Some examples would be oatmeal, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and grapefruit.

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2. Work with a Nutritionist

A professional nutritionist will work with you to create a meal plan that maximizes needed protein and carbs in your diet while offsetting any stress-related digestive problems.

3. Take a Multivitamin

A multivitamin is a good "safety net" for ensuring your body continues to get the nutrients it needs, even in times of stress.

Losing control of your body weight can be another stressor in addition to all the others you face. But with a little help, you can regain control of your body and mind.

4. Work with a Licensed Therapist

Work with professionals who will guide you in learning ways to manage stress and weight-related issues. If you're suffering from anxiety due to prolonged stress and feel your weight or physical health is being affected, a licensed therapist can help you. With compassion and expertise, licensed therapists are equipped to help you develop positive and healthy eating habits. You can read reviews of some BetterHelp therapists below, from people experiencing similar issues.

Counselor Reviews

"Shana is a very helpful and thoughtful counselor. Shana not only helped me work through my immediate problems but discussed a path forward so that I could find more time to enjoy myself and manage the stress and anxiety in the future. I really appreciate her counseling."

"Ryan came into my life when I was lost, depressed, anxious and stressed. His help was available straight away which is exactly what I needed when the situation felt hopeless, and I could access it from the comfort of my own home. Writing has always been the best way for me to process my thoughts and I think I would have struggled to be truly vulnerable and speak honestly in a doctor's office. When I've had face-to-face counseling previously I have ended up sugar coating my issues as it's felt scary or embarrassing to say them out loud. That defeats the purpose. Online counseling is perfect for me and even though I'm now ready to stop, I am pretty sure I will need it at some point in my life again. Ryan responds back quickly, really listens and is non-judgmental, compassionate and warm. He doesn't do the work for you but rather gives you the best tools possible for you to tackle the issues and ideas to think about."

Conclusion

Anxiety can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. While you can't eliminate all stress from your life, learning the strategies above can help you stay on the right track, even through the most difficult times. Working with a counselor can help you identify the underlying causes of anxiety, and learn tools to overcome anxiety in healthy ways. Take the first step today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can stress and anxiety make you lose weight?

Anxiety and stress can cause you to lose weight. If you are losing weight but you haven't changed much about your diet, this may mean anxiety or something else is causing you to lose weight. Consider possible reasons behind your stress, and if you have been eating enough. This may let you know what is going on. You can look into medically reviewed articles to find out more about stress and anxiety, and how it affects your body.

Why does anxiety make you lose weight?

Anxiety may cause you to lose weight because you aren't eating like you should. When you are not eating enough calories a day, you are likely to start losing weight, since your diet is suffering. You may have anxiety disorders, which need to be addressed by a mental health professional, if you experience frequent periods of anxiety. When you have anxiety -like symptoms, read up on medically reviewed information related to anxiety and losing weight.

Can weight loss reduce anxiety?

There is no strong evidence to support that weight loss can reduce anxiety, but this topic has been studied, to see if there is a link between losing weight through dieting and decreased anxiety.

Why do I keep losing weight for no reason?

There are many reasons why you may be losing weight for seemingly no reason. You might have too much stress or anxiety, or you may be experiencing some other type of medical condition that is causing weight loss, such as cancer or liver issues. When you've lost weight and it makes you concerned, talk to your doctor, so they can provide medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.

What anxiety meds cause weight loss?

There are no specific anxiety medicines that cause weight loss, but there is an antidepressant that may cause weight loss. This is not what it is prescribed to do, however. If you have experienced anxiety and weight loss, and you are already taking a prescription, you should look at the side effects associated with it. Look at medically reviewed articles about it as well, so you can be sure that this is a prescription you want to keep taking. You should talk to your doctor about any and all side effects you're experiencing as a result of prescriptions.

Can anxiety make you gain weight?

Anxiety can cause you to gain weight, since it may cause you to want to eat high fat foods day to day, and you may not want to do physical activity either. This can lead to eating more calories a day, which you won't burn off. Moreover, anxiety can raise cortisol levels in your body, which can cause you to gain weight. If you want to lose weight, try to limit foods high in fat or fried foods, and concentrate on foods that are high in protein. Physical exercise (even just walking outside three-four times a week) can help your body stay healthy.

Can stress cause rapid weight loss?

One of the effects of stress is that it can cause weight loss. When you have chronic stress, you may not want to concentrate on eating the right number of calories. If you have experienced unexpected weight loss because you're stressed, research additional information about stress and natural ways to reduce it. There are medically reviewed sites to check out and you can talk to your physician about medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment when you feel that you need it.

What causes rapid weight loss?

There are a number of conditions that can cause rapid weight loss and many of them are conditions where you should consult with a doctor for more information. You may have diabetes, depression, COPD, or some other type of disorder that is affecting your digestive system or causing stress effects. Read up on medically reviewed information, so you can be informed about unexpected weight loss and if you should be concerned about it.

Can you lose weight from crying?

You can lose weight from crying, but not directly. When the body cries, it may lessen anxiety-like symptoms, which in turn can help you lower cortisol levels. This may help you lose weight, since your body will essentially relax. When your body is stressed or thinks that it needs to use the fight or flight response, this can affect the body in many different ways. Crying may change this, but it isn't the basis of a diet plan.

Does stress reduce weight?

Depending on your stress-related symptoms, stress can reduce weight or cause you to gain weight. When you realized you've lost weight and you aren't sure why, try to remember if you have been eating enough calories and taking in enough fluids. It's important to maintain a healthy weight, whether you experience stress or not.
What foods are bad for anxiety?

Foods high in fat and calories are bad for anxiety. Medically reviewed sources may pinpoint what you should be eating better, such as foods high in protein, or fruits and vegetables. When you are anxious, the body's fight or flight reflex can activate at any time, which can also cause you to have symptoms that are unwanted.

What foods cause anxiety?

There aren't foods that cause anxiety, but if you have anxiety, you should stay away from spicy foods, as well as alcohol, caffeine, and high calorie content items. People with anxiety may have to watch what they eat sometimes, so they are maintaining a healthy weight, which might be able to limit some of the effects of stress. Be sure to stay apprised of the research that is currently being conducted on anxiety causing foods by reading medically reviewed articles.

How can I stop losing weight?

If you want to stop losing weight, you must eat more calories than you are burning. When you are experiencing anxiety and weight loss, you may need to take extra steps to control your anxiety symptoms, while also considering what you are eating. A great place to start is by looking at medically reviewed plans that explain how to gain or maintain weight, so you can know you are eating the right foods.

When should you worry about weight loss?

The general consensus is if you lose more than 5 percent of your body weight in just half a year, you should talk to your doctor. There may be something going in your body which needs to be treated. There is a relationship between anxiety and weight loss, for some people, and it can cause anyone that experiences it to lose weight.

How much weight loss is abnormal?

Again, if you are losing more than 5 percent of your body weight within a 6-month span, this is something that is a cause for concern. When this happens, you should do your best to determine if this weight loss is stress related or caused by something else. It is possible to lose weight without thinking about it when you're stressed.

Do anxiety meds cause weight loss?

Certain anxiety meds may cause weight less, especially if they are lessening your anxiety. When you are able to lessen anxiety, you may also see a reduction in cortisol levels, which can translate into weight loss. Anxiety can also cause a fight or flight response in the body, which is a response to a perceived threat.

Does anxiety cause belly fat?

Anxiety can cause belly fat, especially if it elicits a fight or flight response from the body. During fight or flight, your systems start to work overtime because your body thinks you are under attack, or in a period of extreme stress. This can lead to belly fat. On the other hand, after these anxiety attacks go away, this stress related issue can go away as well, where you can get rid of belly fat.
How can I stop gaining weight from anxiety?
Some people may gain weight due to anxiety, and you can reverse this, once you are aware of it. To do this, you can increase physical activity, stay away from foods high in fat and calories, and start making healthy food choices. While you are trying to fix your eating habits, you may also want to look into health news and medically reviewed articles for more helpful information.

What is the best anxiety medication for weight loss?

Anxiety medication is not supposed to be prescribed for weight loss. If you intend to try to lose weight, there are natural ways to do so. You can do what you can to change your eating habits, burn calories, and make better food choices, so you can maintain a healthy weight.

Contact BetterHelp

For more information on where to find a therapist that can help you, you can reach out to contact@betterhelp.com. You can also find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Facebook, YouTube & Tumblr.

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Does Anxiety Burn Fat