Can anxiety cause weight loss?

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that causes anxious thoughts, restlessness, and difficulty focusing. It can also result in feelings of dread and fear, which can sometimes lead to panic attacks.

Nearly 40 million adults in the United States have anxiety.

It can also cause several physical symptoms, such as:

• fatigue
• body pain and aches
• changes in weight
• sweating
• nausea

Losing or gaining weight is common in people with anxiety and stress. Treatment methods such as medication, behavioral therapies, and lifestyle measures can help you manage symptoms.  

Can anxiety cause weight loss?

Anxiety and stress are closely linked. Stress is how your body responds to threats by releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Anxiety is a reaction to stress.

Everyone has stress and anxiety from time to time. But when stress becomes chronic, and anxiety becomes persistent, it can develop into a mental health condition like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). About 7 million people have GAD in the United States.

Both stress and anxiety can lead to changes in weight due to several factors, such as:

Side effects of medication

Medications to treat stress can lead to weight loss and weight gain.

For example, antidepressants, which can also help treat anxiety — like paroxetine (Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) — can lead to weight gain.

Changes in appetite

Anxiety and stress can affect your appetite. Some people experience a loss in appetite because the body under stress can produce a hormone called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which affects your desire to eat.   

If you are experiencing changes in appetite alongside high stress levels, consider speaking with a healthcare professional to identify a treatment plan that can help.

Sleep changes

People with stress and anxiety can experience difficulty falling or staying asleep.

A 2018 study found that stress leads to poor sleeping habits and cravings that result in weight gain. An older 2010 study found that people who slept less lost less body fat. 

Increase in stress hormones

When you experience stress and anxiety, your body releases the fight-or-flight hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones — particularly cortisol — can lead to weight gain.  

Eating habits

Anxiety and stress can disturb your eating habits, whether it’s making you lose your appetite or crave foods that can provide comfort but may not be the healthiest option.

A 2023 study found that anxiety could lead to psychological food cravings.

Treatment for anxiety

There are several treatment options available for anxiety. These include: 

Medications

Common medication options to treat anxiety include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Examples of SSRIs include:

• sertraline (Zoloft)
• paroxetine (Paxil)
• citalopram (Celexa)

Examples of SNRIs include:

• duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• venlafaxine (Effexor)
• levomilnacipran (Fetzima)

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

Therapy 

Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and talk therapy can help people with anxiety learn how to identify and change their thought patterns.

This can help them understand the root cause of their anxiety and learn how to cope with symptoms and triggers.

Prevention

You can help prevent and manage weight changes — whether it’s weight loss or gain — from anxiety and stress by addressing the root cause. The treatment options above can provide ways to cope with symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Being mindful of what factors may trigger your symptoms can also help.

Certain lifestyle strategies can affect how you manage your anxiety symptoms and, in turn, help keep your weight at a moderate range. These lifestyle factors include:

• eating a balanced diet
• exercising
• practicing yoga
• practicing meditation, mindfulness, and journaling 
• deep breathing exercises to reduce stress
• getting enough sleep by practicing good sleep hygiene

When should you speak with a doctor?

If you find that anxiety symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, and if your weight change is unexplained or occurs quickly, consider speaking with a healthcare professional to help you identify a suitable treatment plan.

Summary

Anxiety is a mental health condition that affects 40 million adults in the United States. It can lead to both psychological and physical symptoms.

One of the physical symptoms of anxiety and stress is weight change, whether loss or gain. This may be due to several factors, such as a side effect of anxiety medications, loss of appetite, or a change in eating habits.

You can address weight issues from anxiety by treating the root cause. Treatment options for anxiety include medication, therapy, and lifestyle measures.

Consider speaking with a mental health professional and your loved ones if you feel that symptoms of anxiety and stress are disrupting your day-to-day and affecting your quality of life.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.