Emotional states that contribute to excessive food consumption and subsequent increase in body weight.

Hormones have a role in the complex process of weight growth, which involves many other variables. On one hand, these hormones like leptin work to prevent weight gain; on the other, they control our emotions, which leads us to binge and put on the pounds. 

You may opt for comfort food when depressed or anxious. Emotions, not hunger. With emotional or comfort eating, you desire fatty and sweet food and can't stop eating. These 5 emotions might cause overeating and weight gain.

Try to picture this. It's Sunday afternoon, and you've finished your morning routine and don't have anything specific to do. As you flip through the stations, you discover a show that piques your curiosity. The notion of ordering something delicious would be the first thing that comes to mind when you're very bored. 

Have faith in us when we say that your delicious cuisine will always be unhealthy. The reason for this is because when you're bored, you tend to consume more unhealthy items since you don't have the mental capacity to make good meal choices.

Stress eating—we've all done it. Many people crave wafers or sweets in the middle of the day before a meeting or close to the deadline. At this point, appetites are hard to resist. Stress is something we all experience, and studies show that it might make you consume more sugary and calorie-dense meals. 

The hormone cortisol is responsible for this. We have a strong desire for meals high in sugar and fat because they reduce the activity in our brains that is associated with stress. Another function of the stress hormone is to cause the accumulation of excess fatty acids in the abdominal area.

Food is the ideal distraction when one isn't available to soothe and divert us. When alone, it's normal to crave food, even if you're not hungry. A new research in Hormones and Behavior found that lonely persons have higher circulating levels of ghrelin after meals, making them feel hungry sooner.

Joy and food go together. We all feel like we deserve a treat after a good exam or a great job presentation, so we indulge. Rewarding ourselves for hard effort and success. During this procedure, people generally eat more unhealthy food than normal.

Another emotion-driver is frustration. Comfort food is a natural distraction when you're dissatisfied with your relationship, career, or other issues. You can briefly escape reality. Food can temporarily disguise tension and hostility. You'll be stuck until you have the guts to face it.

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