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Science Explains How Being Angry Can Make You Gain Weight

Anger is not just screaming and being in a bad mood. There are 3 types of anger. And each of them has its own symptoms, which include, for example, self-blame, risk-taking behavior, false tearfulness and many others. Therefore, anger is not as simple as it may seem. And its influence on us can be much more serious than an argument and a spoiled evening. One of the side effects is excess weight gain.

We all can be angry from time to time. But being constantly in this state can be detrimental for your weight. We at Bright Side would like to tell you why it’s worth controlling your anger.

It all starts with adrenaline

Anger manifests itself not only in our emotional state, but also in the chemical processes of our body. When we get angry, adrenaline is released. It serves to make us ready to either "fight or flight." It activates us and causes anxiety.

Due to the blood flow from the internal organs to the muscles, we cannot feel hunger while we are angry. But this only has a short-term effect.

After the adrenaline level decreases, we feel the need to replenish the lost energy and we start to crave and eat food. But due to the fact that we are anxious, this can lead to us resorting to emotional and mindless eating. This means that we could eat something that's not good for us, that will bring us joy and comfort, not taking into consideration whether it's healthy for us or not.

What you can do:

Try not to eat to deal with your stress. Track your diet and stop every time you realize that you are full. This will help you to prevent weight gain.

Our anxiety is a reason for stress

Anxiety increases stress. Because of this, the level of the hormone cortisol increases. In addition to being harmful to the heart and blood pressure, it also affects our weight.

Cortisol converts blood sugar to fat and inhibits digestion. And as a result it leads to weight gain and forms fat that can be harmful for our heath.

What you can do:

Throw out your negative emotions with an active pastime. Go to the gym, do a workout, or take a walk in the park. This will help you change your state of mind and collect your thoughts.

We lose appetite control

Stress in turn leads to sleeping problems. When we don't get enough sleep, we don't have energy. And we are more likely to fill it with carbohydrates, which are contained in sweet drinks, candies, and other unhealthy foods.

At the same time, it's more difficult for us to control ourselves. Lack of sleep disrupts the functioning of hormones that control the appetite.

What you can do:

Find a way to restore harmony in your life. This may be reading, meeting with friends, doing your favorite thing, or something else that brings you pleasure and peace.

How often do you feel angry? Which other reasons for weight gain do you know of? Share your thoughts with others in the comments.

Illustrated by Natalia Breeva for Bright Side
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