Does emotional stress cause weight gain?
Some people do tend to gain weight when they are under stress. When you are stressed out, you may find it more difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. Some people may eat in an attempt to fulfil emotional needs during a particular stressful time. Emotional stress, in some people, may cause mild temporary increases in cortisol. But there is no evidence that the amount of cortisol produced by a healthy individual (under stress) is enough to cause weight gain. Rarely, chronic stress (the one that lasts months or years) may elevate cortisol levels sufficiently enough and for a long period to cause weight gain.
