Can worry cause weight loss?

Worry is, unfortunately, a natural part of life for a lot of us and can have several negative impacts on our bodies.  Worry is a necessary emotion that, even though it does not feel good, deserves affirming because it needs to be there.  For example, worrying about a job interview for a job you really want is necessary to help you make the job interview serious and make sure that you prepare.  One common symptom associated with worry is weight loss.  A reason why this is a common symptom of worry is that worry increases one’s heart rate.  As our heart rate rises, we will burn more and more calories, leading to weight loss. 

Another common symptom of worry is to have a decreased appetite.  Some people react to worry in their body that leads to nausea, decreasing their appetite.  This is a vicious cycle because not eating can actually make worry and anxiety worse.  This is because when your body receives anxious hormones, which leads to a lower appetite, you will then eat less.  When you eat less, your body craves food and goes into survival mode, increasing worry and anxiety.  This type of vicious cycle can lead to extreme weight loss if it is not addressed. 

Worry can typically cause nervous movements in many of us that, over time, can cause weight loss.  For example, many people will tend to fidget more and even pace more when they are worried.  These types of nervous movements will naturally burn more calories, which will lead to some weight loss.  Another common symptom of worry can be a lack of sleep and/or restless sleep.  When we are worried, our brains are more active and focused on what we are worried about. This lack of sleep can lead to more awake hours, which will mean that we are actively burning more calories.  Therefore, the lack of sleep can be a dangerous slope towards losing weight if the worries are not addressed.