Effect of Food on Stress-Related Mood and Eating Behavior
Ever
foundyourself munching furiously when stressed out, even if you are not
hungry? Well, researchers havefound that stress leads to excessive
eating especially of sweets and high-fatfoods and is one of the causes
of obesity.
Some studies however indicate that eating excesscarbohydrates may
actually increase the amount of stress. Stress and a highcarbohydrate
diet together may increase the chances of obesity.
The feeling
of being rewarded by food is perceivedby the brain in two forms,
'liking' and 'wanting.' 'Liking' refers to thepleasure derived through
the oro-sensory stimulation of food. 'Wanting' on theother hand, refers
to the appetite, craving or motivation to obtain the food.
A study was conducted on 19 men and 19 women to testthe effect of
two different types of food, high protein or high carbohydrate
onstress-induced changes in mood, the perception of 'liking' or
'wanting' by thebrain and post-meal energy intake.
The participants of the study were examined on 4occasions. On one
occasion, they underwent a stress session (by taking astress-causing
computer exam) and were then given a high-protein diet. Inanother
session, they received stress session with a high-carbohydrate diet.
Inthe remaining two sessions, they received a high-protein or a
high-carbohydratediet at rest without any stress.
Pre- and post-meal 'liking' and 'wanting' weretested using a
computer test. Appetite profile was measured with visualanalogue scales,
mood changes were measured with the help of questionnaires andpost-meal
energy intakes were measured.
The participants were found to be depressed oranxious during
stress. The high-protein intake, when compared tohigh-carbohydrate
intake, reduced subsequent 'wanting' and energy intake atrest only in
patients with high disinhibited eating behavior (Disinhibitedeating
behavior is when a person eats too quickly and is repeatedlyunsuccessful
during dieting). However, this effect disappeared during stress. In all
other cases, the two diets hadsimilar effects on stress-related mood
and eating behavior.
Thus, theeffect of diet on stress-related eating behavior is the same irrespective ofthe type of food, according to this study.
Reference:
1.
Lemmens SG et al. Lack of effect of high-protein vs.
high-carbohydratemeal intake on stress-related mood and eating behavior.
Nutrition Journal 2011,10:136 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-136