Anxiety disorders are one of the mostly commonly experienced mental health disorders in the world. In the United States alone, around 40 million people suffer from some form of an anxiety disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Although anxiety is a normal part of life from time to time, an anxiety disorder can cause a severe impact on your life. Anxiety disorders have numerous symptoms, including weight gain or the inability to lose weight.
Anxiety Symptoms
According to Help Guide, some of the more common symptoms of anxiety include insomnia, panic attacks, heart palpitations, sweating, difficulty breathing, emotional tension, restlessness and feelings of dread. Some patients suffering from anxiety also experience weight gain, although weight loss can also be a possible symptom.
Anxiety and Weight Gain
Anxiety, stress and negative mood stimulates the production of the stress hormone cortisol. According to a 2001 study in the journal "Psychoneuroendocrinology," cortisol production can be responsible for an increase in emotional eating, leading to weight gain. Certain anxiety medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), may also cause an increase in weight, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Dieting and Anxiety
Certain types of diets may also be responsible for anxiety and a long-term inability to lose weight. According to a letter by Mark J. Ehrenreich, M.D., of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, published in the March-April 2006 edition of the journal "Psychosomatics," patients who follow a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet often experience symptoms of anxiety, including panic attacks, irritability and sleep problems. If you abandon this type of diet, you may subsequently experience a weight gain, according to MayoClinic.com.
Prevention
Increasing your daily amount of physical activity may help to combat the symptoms of anxiety, as well as help you to lose weight, according to MayoClinic.com. Exercise not only helps you burn calories and lose weight, it also helps to decrease symptoms of anxiety by increasing your body's production of endorphins and other "feel-good" neurotransmitters.
Warning
If you experience severe symptoms of anxiety, you should contact your doctor or a licensed mental health professional. According to MayoClinic.com, exercise may help to ease your symptoms of anxiety and help you to reach your weight loss goals, but it should not be used as a substitute for professional help.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
- "Stress May Add Bite to Appetite in Women: A Laboratory Study of Stress-Induced Cortisol and Eating Behavior"; Psychoneuroendocrinology Vol. 26; Elissa Epel, Rachel Lapidus, Bruce McEwen and Kelly Brownell; 2001
- "A Case of the Re-Emergence of Panic and Anxiety Symptoms After Initiation of a High-Protein, Very Low Carbohydrate Diet"; Psychosomatics; Mark J. Ehrenreich, MD; March-April 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss
- MayoClinic.com: Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms
- Help Guide: Anxiety Attacks and Disorders
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