28 June 2020 - Dr Joan Khoo, Chief and Senior Consultant, Department of Endocrinology, CGH said that many people cope with stress, anxiety and loneliness by eating more, especially craving fatty and sweet foods that stimulate the production of brain chemicals such as serotonin, which induces pleasurable sensations and relieves anxiety. Higher production of the stress hormone, cortisol, also increases hunger and promotes deposition of fat around the belly.

Conversely, other people may be motivated to control their weight if they are aware they are going to be less active and eat more, especially if they had been advised to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight to manage conditions such as diabetes. But healthcare practitioners caution against obsessing over any weight-loss programmes. They recommend more sustainable and moderate weight loss, which means losing no more than half or 1kg a week, while eating a variety of food.

SOURCE: THE STRAITS TIMES SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED, REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION