Lose the Stress, Lose the Fat
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Posted On :
Aug-25-2011
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Article Word Count :
835
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UK researchers have discovered that those who report having job strain are more likely to become obese. Maybe it’s because they eat more junk or sit at their desks for longer periods of time, but whatever the case, higher stress is linked directly to fat around your waist and belly.
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Stress is no stranger to this newsletter, that’s for sure. Over the years, Doctors Health Press has chronicled all the many ways that stress can affect your health. This new way might have a lot of people shaking their heads, but hopefully not in an overly stressful manner. That is because stress, particularly job-related, can actually make you fat.
UK researchers have discovered that those who report having job strain are more likely to become obese. Maybe it’s because they eat more junk or sit at their desks for longer periods of time, but whatever the case, higher stress is linked directly to fat around your waist and belly.
This new revelation builds on a mountain of other problems associated with stress that include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, atherosclerosis (i.e. hardening of arteries), lung problems, digestive trouble, and a weakened immune system. The worst culprit is stress that is long-lasting (“chronic”), which is associated with a handful of serious health issues. Because of this existing knowledge, the UK thought that job stress could make people more likely to put on weight.
More Than 10,000 Adults in Study
For two decades, the researchers followed approximately 7,000 men and 3,400 women. They were all between 35 and 55 years of age at the start of the study. All of them reported severe job stress, including anxiety due to decision-making, social support and hard demands. Those who said they had job strain at least three times during the study were at a 73% higher risk of gaining weight than people who said they never had job stress.
More striking, those who experienced stress three or more times were 61% more likely to have what’s called “central obesity,” where one’s waist stretches more than 40 inches (men) or 35 inches (women). Those who reported job strain once were at nearly a 20% greater risk of obesity and central obesity. Those who reported it twice were at 24% and 41%, respectively. This is proof that having a stressful workload, combined with a lack of support, could lead directly to obesity.
Alternative Stress-reducing Options
So what can we all do about this? Other than addressing the problem at work, you can take many steps to help yourself reduce stress and its impact. Your best natural options include:
Relaxation Therapy
Any therapy that involves getting yourself in a relaxed, comfortable position, and focusing on your breathing, chanting, or visualizing yourself somewhere. Try meditation, deep breathing, and relaxing specific muscles one by one. Anything that takes you out of the present and away from the stress.
Aromatherapy
Easing stress aromatically is a great idea, and essential oils are available at all health stores. You can apply the oils to your skin, or put drops in a humidifier or a bath. (Lavender is the best-known oil for stress.) Breathe in the soothing vapors.
Herbs
Many herbs have soothing properties, the best being valerian root. Drink several cups of valerian tea a day (it helps you sleep, too). Valerian does have some reported side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, itchiness, and stomach problems. Chamomile, passion flower and lemon balm are other herbs that are known to exert a soothing effect. Taking ginseng is known to improve the body’s reaction against any type of stress.
Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi
Yoga’s combination of meditation, physical postures, and breathing exercises can reduce stress. Controlled breathing helps focus the mind and promote relaxation. Its meditative nature calms the mind and focuses it inward, telling the brain that it’s okay to relax. Pilates—a fitness program that focuses on the spine and its supporting muscles—works the same way, with specialized breathing techniques. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that involves slow movements and deep concentration. Try whatever you like best, a few times each week. You’ll need to take a course or buy a DVD to learn the proper techniques.
Massage Therapy
This one is obvious. Deep, circular Swedish massages can slow down the heart and relax the body.
Biofeedback
In biofeedback sessions, you learn how to control stress with the aid of a machine. It changes the way you perceive bodily functions (i.e. muscle tension). Through relaxation, visualization and proper breathing, you could learn to manage stress by slowly learning how to relieve muscle tension.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
Done with a practitioner, this is an effective way of curing stress. The aim is to identify sources of stress, reevaluate priorities, change your response to stress and discover personal methods for managing and reducing it.
Some of these therapies may help you relieve your stress, while others may not. Ask your doctor which methods he or she thinks could work best for you. Make sure you go over the potential side effects or drug interactions of any herb you are considering taking, and review the appropriateness of any therapy or exercise according to your current physical condition. If you’re out of shape or have an existing health condition, you’ll have to take it slow and easy.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Lose the Stress, Lose the Fat_76541.aspx
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Author Resource :
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Keywords :
Stress, anxiety, health news, health e-letter, nutritional health, doctors Advice,
Category :
Health and Fitness
:
Depression
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