Dr. Anshuman Kaushal Says Stress and Sleep Loss Drive Weight Gain Beyond Calories
Updated
Updated · The Times of India · Jun 19
Dr. Anshuman Kaushal Says Stress and Sleep Loss Drive Weight Gain Beyond Calories
1 articles · Updated · The Times of India · Jun 19
Summary
Stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal imbalance can push people toward weight gain even when they are not obviously overeating, Dr. Anshuman Kaushal said.
Cortisol is a key mechanism: chronic stress raises the hormone, increases hunger, encourages high-calorie cravings and promotes fat storage, he said.
The pattern can also show up as emotional eating, skipped workouts, exhaustion and lower motivation for physical activity, making weight gain harder to reverse.
WHO has called obesity one of the fastest-growing global health concerns, while the CDC says long-term stress can stimulate appetite and inflammation that contribute to obesity.
Are we ignoring obesity's real culprits—chronic stress and poor sleep—in our search for a quick pharmaceutical fix?
If obesity is a complex disease, why do health strategies still focus primarily on individual willpower and diet?
As new drugs promise 30% weight loss, is this a cure for obesity or just an expensive band-aid?
The New Science of Weight Gain: Why Stress, Sleep, and Hormones Matter More Than Calories
Overview
This report highlights a major shift in how weight gain is understood, moving beyond the old idea of simply eating less and exercising more. Experts like Dr. Anshuman Kaushal emphasize that weight gain is often driven by complex metabolic and hormonal factors, not just overeating or lack of willpower. Chronic stress, poor sleep, and hormonal imbalances can all disrupt the body’s systems, making weight management difficult. This new perspective encourages empathy instead of blame, urging medical evaluation for unexplained weight gain and promoting a more compassionate, science-based approach to obesity.