Stress and Your Metabolism: A Dangerous Connection

It is indeed true that stress brings a series of damages to our mental well-being, but what many people forget is that it can also negatively affect teh functioning of our body. And one of the aspects that suffers most from this is the metabolism.

In modern routine, factors such as traffic, excess information and professional or personal pressures are directly linked to increased levels of cortisol – known as the “stress hormone”.

Furthermore, the sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest concerns in this context. Data from a survey carried out by the Social service of Industry (Sesi) released in 2023 shows that 52% of Brazilians rarely or never practice physical activities.

A lack of exercise in routine enhances the negative effects of stress on mental and physical health.

According to Marcio Atalla, ambassador of Relaxmedic, professor of Physical Education and postgraduate degree in Nutrition from the University of São Paulo (USP), not moving helps the body remain in a constant state of alert.

“Our body is actually very bright. But it is indeed the same as it was hundreds of thousands of years ago, when our lifestyle was completely different, with much more movement”, he says.

Atalla explains that, in the past, stress served as a stimulus for us to react and resolve dangerous situations. However, today, he ended up becoming an agent who favors the accumulation of fat in the body.

Another point worth mentioning is that stress can increase binge eating foods rich in sugar and fat.

“When we are under constant pressure, our body seeks fast sources of energy, usually in the form of sweets or ultra-processed foods,” he says.

Several studies show that chronic stress can increase the risk of disproportionate weight gain by up to 50%, depending on the individual.

“When the organism enters a state of