Stress eating: how does this mechanism work in the brain?

Stress eating: how does this mechanism work in the brain?

Stress eating: how does this mechanism work in the brain?

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Consuming foods that are high in fat, sugar, or salt can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, which produces feelings of pleasure.

This is known as the “hedonic” reward pathway, and it makes sense that it would be activated when we consume our favorite foods.

But what about when we eat fatty or sugary foods out of stress or boredom?

In a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, researchers found that this hedonic reward pathway was also activated during stress-induced eating.

In addition to the pleasure associated with eating these foods, a release of cortisol from the adrenal glands may also contribute to why we reach for high-fat and high-sugar foods when we’re stressed.

Cortisol is necessary for maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar levels during stressful situations. But it has been shown to increase food intake—especially of sweet, high-calorie foods.