Artwork by Olivia Lee
I stopped looking at the scale when I became a senior; I dropped all my diet plans I promised myself that I was going to accomplish; I, instead, ended up gaining a significant amount of weight (of which I will not disclose the specific numbers, for the sake of my privacy and my dignity). Amid the chaos of college admissions, stress took hold, and I found solace in the soothing embrace of comfort foods. As a high school senior navigating the demanding and often overwhelming process of applying to colleges and universities, I, like many of my peers, resorted to stress-eating as a coping mechanism, which as a result made me view my body in a negative light; I had gained over six kilograms over the summer and so far duing school, and I hated how I looked. Desperate to ignore the fact that my body was no longer fit and thin, I hid the scale in the back of the bathroom, where it began to collect dust.
But, what had made me gain weight so fast?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, stress, in the short term, in fact makes people lose weight; the nervous system sends messages to the adrenal glands atop the kidneys to pump out the hormone epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). Epinephrine helps trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, a revved-up physiological state that temporarily puts eating on hold.
But if stress is present fo a prolonged period of time, the adrenal glands release another hormone called cortisol, and cortisol increases appetite and which may ramp up motivation to eat. Once a stressful episode is over, cortisol levels should fall, but if the stress doesn't go away — or if a person's stress response gets stuck in the "on" position — cortisol may stay elevated. This makes people attracted to sweet and sugary foods because they increase serotonin levels in one’s body, making them feel “happy.”
Most seniors, myself included in that group, especially during their first semester, go through a prolonged period of stress due to college applications. This heightened and persistent stress can trigger changes in eating habits and body image perception, leading many to seek comfort in unhealthy food choices, thus impacting their overall well-being and self-perception.
For seniors, college is the only thing on their minds when they stary their last year in highschool, whether if it’s getting accepted into them, or able to follow their rigorous curriculum. According to a 2023 opinion article from The New York Times featuring a discussion between 11 seniors from different highschools, they all had their own concerns regarding college, primarily not being able to adjust to the new environment. “‘I’m scared of not being able to catch up or keep up with your grades… not having anyone behind you anymore… the stress” (The New York Times).
Stress makes us turn to certain coping mechanisms, and oftentimes they can become harmful; while indulging oneself in desserts can prove to be effective from time to time, overreliance on unhealthy comfort foods can lead to long-term negative consequences for both physical and mental health. It can contribute to weight gain, exacerbate feelings of guilt or dissatisfaction with one's body, and potentially lead to unhealthy eating habits.
So, how can we combat this unhealthy eating?
Well, here are a couple of ways; 1. Meditation: Countless studies show that meditation reduces stress, although much of the research has focused on high blood pressure and heart disease.
2. Social Support: Friends, family, and other sources of social support seem to have a buffering effect on the stress that people experience. For example, research suggests that people working in stressful situations, like hospital emergency departments, have better mental health if they have adequate social support.
3. “Illusory” Truth Effect: This is the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure. Try repeating this in your mind: “It’s okay for me to gain now; I will lose weight after college admissions are over.” Or, try this: “It’s okay for me to look like this; I may not be in the best shape now, but when I’m through this storm, I will recover.” Instead of focusing on the present, this will make you look forward to the future, instilling a sense of hope and motivation.
It’s okay to not want to look at the scale now, and it’s normal to feel stressed, closed-off, and alone. Amid the chaos of senior year and the overwhelming college admissions process, many of us find solace in comfort foods, leading to changes in our bodies and self-perception. It’s okay to not want to look at the scale now, and it’s normal to feel stressed, closed-off, and alone. Amid the chaos of senior year and the overwhelming college admissions process, many of us find solace in comfort foods, leading to changes in our bodies and self-perception.
Works Cited
Harvard Health Publishing. "Why Stress Causes People to Overeat." Harvard Health Publishing:
Harvard Medical School, 1st ed., version 1, 15 Feb. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat. Accessed 23 Sept. 2023.
The New York Times. "Harvard or Happiness? 11 High School Seniors Debate College Rankings."
The New York Times, 1st ed., version 1, 25 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/25/opinion/high-school-seniors-college-focus-group.html. Accessed 24 Sept. 2023.
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