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For those who reach for a cookie when times get tough, stress may
take a toll on the waistline.
Researchers found that for people who said stress often drove them
to eat, the comfort food of choice tended to be greasy, salty or
sweet. Not surprisingly, such "stress-driven" eaters,
particularly women, weighed more on average.
The researchers looked at over 5,000 individuals at four points
in their lives -- birth and ages 1, 14 and 31. At age 31, the participants'
body mass index, eating habits and methods of coping with stress
were studied. Those who said they often or sometimes tried to make
themselves feel better by eating and drinking were designated as
stress-driven eaters.
The researchers found that these individuals were more likely than
others to frequently eat pizza, hamburgers,
sausages and chocolate. They also drank more alcohol,
on average.
For both men and women, body
mass index -- a measure of weight, taking height into account
-- was higher among stress-driven eaters than others. For women,
obesity was associated with eating to cope with stress.
Men were more likely to eat in the face of stress if they were
single, divorced or frequently unemployed. The tendency was also
seen in men with academic degrees -- which is surprising since higher
education is often linked to lower rates of obesity.
They speculate that the young men in this
study may be more susceptible to stress caused by on-the-job demands
compared with older, more experienced workers.
Among women, those who felt a lack of emotional support in their
lives had a greater tendency to eat to cope with stress. The researchers
conclude that efforts to prevent or treat obesity should address
the ways in which people cope with stress.
Preventive Medicine January 2002;34:29-39
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