To combat stress-induced obesity, drink water slowly

High work pressure and irregular work and rest schedules may increase the difficulty of losing weight. Doctors point out that in modern society, nearly 80% of overweight people suffer from stress-type obesity. Common symptoms include edema, large fluctuations in weight between morning and evening, cold hands and feet, lower body obesity, and middle-to-wide obesity. It is recommended not to gulp water, but to drink slowly, eat less high-salt foods, and use techniques such as diet control to effectively help lose weight.

To improve the symptoms of stress-induced obesity, doctors recommend drinking water slowly to avoid affecting metabolic function. (Photography by Huang Zhiwen)

Common symptoms of stress-induced obesity

I am so upset that I can’t lose weight no matter what I do! Many people in China have obesity problems. Lu Jiaxiang, an internist who is involved in obesity medical research, said that it is estimated that about 80% of overweight people suffer from stress-type obesity. If they use the wrong weight loss method, such as fasting or mistakenly taking overly powerful weight-loss drugs, they may lose weight in a short period of time, but the rebound force will be stronger.

The reason for stress-induced obesity is that when the brain feels stressed, it stimulates adrenaline to secrete cortisol (a glucocorticoid hormone in the body that mainly controls the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, commonly known as stress alcohol). If the amount is too high, it will cause anxiety, obesity, and chronic fatigue.

Common symptoms of stress-type obesity include edema, large fluctuations in weight between morning and evening, frequent dry mouth and tongue, cold hands and feet, poor appetite, and obesity in the lower body or middle and wide areas.

Drink water slowly and eat less high-salt foods

Dr. Lu Jiaxiang pointed out that in order to successfully get rid of stress-induced obesity, we must first change our drinking habits. People who usually like to gulp down ice water can switch to drinking cold or warm water slowly, one sip at a time, to avoid cells bearing a large amount of water in a short period of time with nowhere to vent, which accumulates in the body and affects metabolism.

In addition, you should eat less high-salt and spicy foods, as these will cause symptoms such as appetite and thirst, and you will inadvertently consume more calories. You can supplement more protein, such as chicken, fish, eggs, and milk, and go to bed 30 minutes earlier, which can effectively help you lose weight.

Dr. Lu Jiaxiang added that the most important thing is to persevere with diet control, eat more fruits and vegetables and less starch at night. Usually, the weight loss effect can be clearly seen in the first month. If you encounter a period of weight loss plateau, you can increase aerobic exercise. For example, walking for 30 minutes a day is also quite good.