How Many Calories Does Anxiety Burn?

The Unexpected Calorie Burner: Anxiety

Ever been so wound up about an upcoming event that you could literally feel your heart racing? Or perhaps you’ve paced the floor, nerves fraying, before a big presentation or interview. Well, here’s a silver lining you might not have considered—could these anxiety-inducing moments actually be torching calories?

Believe it or not, the anxiety-activity link is more complex than you might think. So, let’s dive into the surprising ways your body’s stress response can impact your calorie burn.

Does Worrying Whip You Into Shape?

First things first, let’s get to the heart of the matter. When anxiety kicks in, it’s your body’s fight or flight response revving up, preparing you to either face danger head-on or beat a hasty retreat. This response triggers a cascade of physical effects, including an increased heart rate, more rapid breathing, and tense muscles. All of these require energy, i.e., calories.

Here’s the kicker, though—while it’s true that anxiety ramps up your body’s energy use, it’s not going to snag you a spot in the Weight Loss Hall of Fame. The actual number of calories burned because of a bout of worry or anxiety is, frankly, not monumental. Depending on the intensity and duration of your anxiety, you might burn a tad more than your usual resting calorie burn. To put it in perspective, an hour of moderate-intensity anxiety might burn the equivalent of a small cookie—not quite a free pass to overindulging in comfort food.

The Flip Side: When Anxiety Hits Your Appetite

It’s not all about calorie burning, though. Anxiety’s relationship with your waistline can be a double-edged sword, thanks to its impact on appetite. For some, stress turns the stomach into a bottomless pit, sparking cravings for high-calorie comfort foods. For others, anxiety suppresses appetite, making the thought of food about as appealing as nails on a chalkboard.

So, while you’re mildly torching calories as you fret, the net effect on your weight is a complex equation involving your appetite, eating habits, and the duration and intensity of your anxiety.

Adding It All Up

To burn or not to burn—that is the anxiety question. The bottom line is that while anxiety does indeed cause your body to use more energy, banking on it as a weight loss strategy is, well, anxious reasoning. Not to mention, chronic anxiety can lead to a slew of health issues beyond the scale, including heart problems, sleep disturbances, and impaired immune function.

Instead of looking to anxiety as a caloric scorcher, focusing on healthier, more sustainable ways to manage your weight and stress is a far better bet. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and mindfulness practices like meditation can help keep both your weight and your anxiety in check.

So, the next time you’re pacing the floor, remember—yes, you’re burning calories. But no, it’s not the start of a revolutionary weight loss regime. Manage those nerves for your overall well-being, not just for the potential calorie burn.