Stress as a factor determining food choice

Abstract

Stress is an inherent part of life. It accompanies people in many everyday situations, regardless of gender or age. It is inevitable because everyone faces some challenges and problems that need to be solved. The source of stress may be a promotion or demotion at work, financial problems, health problems, too few or too many tasks, silence, noise, lifestyle changes, lack of purpose or multiple goals, fatigue, wedding or loss of a loved one, and many other situations.

In many cases, stress has a negative impact on the human body, affects the perception of the world, self-esteem, and contributes to various diseases. It is associated with pain, fatigue and the inability or problems to cope with a situation. However, it should not be perceived only as a bad and dangerous situation that should be avoided at all costs, because it is inherent in human life and its functioning. It is a normal reaction of every organism, a physiological phenomenon related to life processes. In certain situations it is a natural phenomenon, it appears as a kind of tension. What is important is how a person deals with his or her own feelings. Learning how to respond skillfully to stress is very important because it is not the stress itself that is dangerous, but the response it triggers.

There is a strong connection between stress and eating. Stress can be a trigger that stimulates the desire to eat food. Food, however, can become a temporary relief, a way to cope with a crisis situation. It can become a way of dealing with stress.

The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of stress on nutrition. It was hypothesized that stressful situations cause a decrease in appetite while changing eating behavior.

In the course of the research, an online survey was used, i.e. posted on an external server. Respondents had access to it via their individual Internet address.

Conclusions: (1) Emotions occurring in difficult situations, causing tension, contribute to changes in eating behavior. (2) The relationship between stress and nutrition is not the same for everyone. (3) Stressful situations most often result in decreased appetite and reluctance to eat.