While greater levels of stress result in overeating, the health risks may be compounded if individuals tend to eat
foods with a high fat content, primarily because high fat intake is a significant risk factor for obesity (Dreeben, 2001).
Among stress-driven eaters, body-mass index (BMI) tends to be greater compared to nonstress-driven eaters. In
addition, stress-driven eaters tend to eat more sausages, hamburgers, pizza, and chocolate, which are traditionally high
in fat content, and consume more alcohol (Laitinen, Ek, & Sovio, 2002). Adolescents report that stress is associated
with a shift toward more unhealthy dietary practices (Cartwright et al., 2003).