Obesity, stress and insecurity
May 18th, 2010 | 
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One of the biggest problems in obese people is that, under situations of high stress or feelings of dissatisfaction and / or emotional need, crave foods that cause “pleasure fast” like cookies, sodas, ice cream, chips, burgers, chocolates, cakes and sweets.
Foods high in fat or refined sugar are classified as rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, this means that the body quickly absorbs them and turns them into energy. So when we eat, we can feel a sense of energy and well-being almost instantaneous, from the time they are chewed, the brain produces pleasurable sensations it activates dopamine (hormone of pleasure and joy), and one feels relieved stress and other unpleasant emotions. However, this feeling of satisfaction is only temporary in the long run, eating this type of product not only generates overweight but weakens the body’s defense system and irritates the nervous system degenerates.
Why the urge to eat?
The answer has to do with whether we are able to operate under a system of response and escape to what is considered a hazard. Under a situation of stress or strong emotional need, we tend to respond according to the resources and knowledge that we drove to that status. Then, under our range of resources, we have to deal with the situation. Eating is one way to produce pleasure and satisfaction claims. The brain can not distinguish whether the stress or situation that causes pain or dissatisfaction has to do with accounts that have not been paid, the couple problems with the boss or fight with family members, or not achieve or get what it wants. You can not know if what causes stress is something that tomorrow will be fixed or is a life or death situation. The brain only receives the message and suggested solutions.
Whence comes the strong need to eat?
In the very remote antiquity, when a wild animal chasing a human, this could experience high levels of stress and anxiety. The person then produce cortisol and adrenaline, chemicals that helped to make the muscles tense and ready to attack, flee or defend the person and act for life and survival. This occurred not only when chasing something, but when experiencing a need, and had to put all his skill to work to hunt and bring food or whatever was necessary. All these reactions are associated with a survival instinct.
Today, when we feel anxiety, stress or dissatisfaction, or a need not covered (no matter if this need is emotional, physical or intellectual, it is to emphasize that the brain does not distinguish between them) this primitive defense mechanism and action is activated. Under these situations, the body expected to fight someone and do something to fill this need for survival. If this situation persists without it being resolved, then the body, which has been tense and ready to react, has burned extra calories due to the production of cortisol and adrenaline constant, and also created the message that they need more calories to energy reserves are exhausted and can react appropriately at any time.
It is then that you feel hungry. The fear and the emotions of the same tree as insecurity, tension, stress, uncertainty, and so on., Produce much cortisol and adrenaline in the body and constantly. We can assume that a person eats and is satisfied. However, if insecurity, tension and other remains, then send the message body constantly in need of food, even if you’ve eaten and even have more energy reserves. It’s like a way to be well protected, “armed attacks” must have “strong reservations.”
How to solve the urge to eat all the time?
Telling an overweight person (or tell yourself) not to eat is counterproductive, if not attacked the root of the problem for the obese eating is a reaction to an instinct. The need and the source of stress or anxiety is what we must begin to consider. Many of the situations that cause stress, anxiety and insecurity., And not to physical hazards, but rather emotional. Obese people may have strong feelings of insecurity or fear of something or is not fulfilled in his life, a strong need for affection can be the source of its drive to eat and “fill.”
The approach to help eradicate the problem of overweight people who have tried everything and can not lose weight, would begin to leave the idea of “weight off” and begin to discover that affective or emotional needs are creating a situation stress, insecurity and anxiety. This can be difficult for one person, however, can support this process in therapies such as bioenergetics, which helps to treat emotional situations through the body.
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