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Researcher Points to Connection Between Gaining Weight and Stress

Aired October 29, 2000 - 8:14 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: If you've been struggling to slim down, but still find that you're packing on the pounds, your problem could be stress.

BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, one researcher believes that stress can not only make you sick, it can actually make you fat.

CNN's Christy Feig with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jean Pagon-Bullock is a triathlete.

JEAN PAGON-BULLOCK, TRIATHLETE: Yes, this is Jean Pagon-Bullock.

FEIG: She also juggles the daily stress of work and home.

PAGON-BULLOCK: Ten years ago, a lot of us didn't have answering machines. Then it was answering machines; then it was pagers; then it's faxes; now it's mobile phones. You must be instantly on almost 24-7.

FEIG: And being instantly on is stressful, she noticed she was gaining weight. Now, one researcher sees a connection: stress can actually make us fat. When we're exposed to a stressful situation the brain sends out a stress hormone triggering a chain reaction, causing certain cells to retain more fat.

DR. PAMELA PEEKE, AUTHOR, "FIGHT FAT AFTER FORTY": There are special receptors on the fat cells deep inside your abdomen which are specifically intended to hook up with stress hormone and stress hormone stimulates them to accept fat.

FEIG: Fat the body uses as fuel for the fight or flight defense mechanism.

(on camera): And that worked fine for our ancestors, but the brain can't tell the difference between survival stress and chronic daily pressures, and the body continues to store fat.

(voice-over): So how do you stop the cycle? First you have to block the stress hormones, and that takes beta endorphins, produced when you exercise.

PEEKE: Weightlifting on a routine basis, meaning twice a week vigorously for about 30-40 minutes for both men and women, is really the key.

FEIG: Second is what you eat. Eat lean protein and eliminate starches, especially after 5:00 p.m. And most important, control the stress. Start by understanding it: duration, or the length of exposure, dose, or how much stress you're exposed to; the perception of whether something is stressful, and control.

DR. ESTHER STERNBERG, AUTHOR, "THE BALANCE WITHIN": When you break down stress into those pieces, you can then begin to figure out ways that you in your own situation could turn bad stress into good stress.

FEIG: Jean found that by managing her stress, eating carefully and exercising, she's lost about 25 pounds.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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