Stress, nutrient dense foods and weight gain
Obesity is a global epidemic which results from energy imbalance, with energy intake
exceeding energy expenditure over a long period [11]. The causes of obesity are both diverse
and complex, and can be attributed to physiological, environmental and genetic factors [11].
Specifically, weight gain and the development of obesity have been attributed to lifestyle
factors, with the early work of Kaplan and Kaplan [44] suggesting that one of the
contributing factors to obesity may be due to stress-induced eating, with a greater preference
for nutrient dense foods, particularly those that are high in sugar and fat.