Virtually everyone goes through work-related stress at some point in their lives. Some might encounter an acute period of high stress within the workplace. For others, stressful circumstances color the work experience for years at a time.
Board-certified physician Terry L. Franklin, MD, finds that many of our patients face health issues with a direct link to work stress.
Regardless of whether you’re an employee, manager, or business owner, understanding how workplace stress affects your health is key to learning how to offset negative factors. This is especially true when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.
Researchers are well aware that weight gain is far more complicated than a simple matter of calories in/calories out. Numerous factors can cause or contribute to weight gain, and make it difficult for you to shed excess pounds.
Stress is a normal part of life, and the source of the fight-or-flight response that allows humans to survive in challenging circumstances. Stressful events prompt your system to release hormones that trigger a wide range of changes within your body.
The sensation of your hair raising, goosebumps, and the immediate heightened awareness you get when frightened are all brought on by hormones. But when stress permeates your daily life, these normal hormonal reactions are unregulated, leading to a wide range of problems.
Here’s how stress can affect weight management:
The release of stress hormones like cortisol can trigger abnormally high insulin production. Too much insulin can lead to insulin resistance, a condition known to cause weight gain and excess abdominal fat.
One of the reasons workplace stress is unique is because you can’t easily avoid it. For most people, their jobs are how they put food on the table and a roof over their heads. It’s how they take care of themselves and their families, and how they build savings for the future.
It isn’t always easy to just walk away from a stressful work environment. You may try to dig in and wait until things improve, or put your full effort into trying to meet unreasonable goals or navigate office politics.
Researchers know that for many, time spent at work, preparing for work, or decompressing after work takes up the bulk of their waking hours. That’s part of why a stressful work environment can have a big impact on your life.
The first step is understanding the role that stress plays in weight management. Next, it’s helpful to have a trusted partner to help you navigate a path forward.
Dr. Franklin is passionate about the power of lifestyle modification. He works closely with those in his care to help them find ways to improve daily quality of life.
Weight and stress management go hand-in-hand. You’ll explore how adding something as simple as a daily walk can help you release stress, reduce tension in your body, and keep your metabolism churning away.
You’ll explore how to improve your sleep quality, which has a direct impact on weight management.
You might also look into how treatments like vitamin injections, supplements, and nutraceuticals can help you reach your goals. Some people benefit from weight loss medication to control appetite and manage blood sugar levels.
When you’re ready to try a personalized approach to weight management, reach out to Dr. Franklin to schedule a visit at our downtown Monterey, California, office.
