Stress is thought to influence human eating behavior, and has been examined in animal and
human studies. Our understanding of the stress-eating relationship is confounded by
limitations inherent in the study designs; however, we can make some tentative conclusions
which support the notion that stress can influence eating patterns in humans. Stress appears
to alter overall food intake in two ways, resulting in under- or over-eating, which may be
influenced by stressor severity. Chronic life stress seems to be associated with a greater
preference for energy and nutrient dense foods, namely those that are high in sugar and fat.
Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests chronic life stress may be causally linked to
weight gain, with a greater effect seen in men. Stress-induced eating may be one factor
contributing to the development of obesity. Future studies which measure biological markers
of stress will assist our understanding of the physiological mechanism underlying the stresseating
relationship, and how stress might be linked to neurotransmitters and hormones which
control appetite.