Does Work-Related Stress Contribute to Weight Gain?

Millions of Americans suffer from work-related stress. In fact, the American Institute of Stress says work is the leading cause of stress in the United States. Regardless of your occupation, you've probably experienced stress in the workplace. Whether you work in retail, manufacturing, telecommunications or any other industry, work can be downright stressful. And to make matters worse, there's new evidence suggesting that work-related stress contributes to weight gain.

About the Study

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA), people who experience high levels of work-related stress are more likely to gain weight than their counterparts. For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 full-time workers, asking them questions about their level of work-related stress and weight. Respondents who clocked more hours on the job were more prone to overeating, resulting in a greater risk of weight gain.

How does work-related stress cause weight gain exactly? When speaking about the study, researcher Heather Padilla explained that work-related stress results in a greater consumption of the body's stored energy. And when that energy is consumed, people tend to make bad decisions regarding their diet.

"We have so many things coming at us every day, and we only have so much energy,” said the study's lead researcher and author in a press release. “When our energy gets used up, we don’t have the energy to make ideal decisions about what we eat.”

How to Prevent Work-Related Stress From Impacting Your Weight

Even if you suffer from work-related stress, though, there are ways to prevent it from impacting your weight. First and foremost, try to make better decisions regarding your diet. Rather than picking up fast food during your lunch break, for example, consider preparing and bringing your own meals from home. It takes a little longer to prepare meals before work, but doing so will likely have a positive impact on your weight and overall health.

You can also prevent work-related stress from impacting your weight by exercising on a regular basis. If you work in an office, for example, you probably won't spend much time on your feet. As a result, you may experience weight gain, especially when stressed. By staying active and exercising on a regular basis, though, you'll burn more calories to minimize the risk of weight gain.

This study was published in the Journal of Health Psychology.