Nutrition and stress

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Peer-reviewed / Manuscript (original contribution) received: July 25, 2019 / Revision accepted: December 09, 2019

Overview of selected stress indicators and smart measurement techniques

Background

Nutritional behaviour is a complex biopsychosocial process, which is determined by various factors (e.g. genetic preferences, nutritional education) [1]. This lifelong process is regulated by the interaction of internal physiological (e.g. hunger) and external social and psychological stimuli. Besides, a genetic predisposition and an inconvenient lifestyle can affect that process negatively. A positive energy balance, due to high-energy eating patterns and low levels of physical activity, leads to weight gain in the short-term and to overweight and obesity in the long-term [2]. Moreover, the risk of comorbidities (e.g. metabolic syndrome) increases [3]. Stress is being discussed as an external risk factor for the development of overweight and obesity. Stressful situations have an impact on nutritional behaviour (e.g. increased energy intake) [4] and therefore, can contribute to the development of nutrition-related diseases in the long-term.

Stress – definition and characteristics

At present, there is no official definition of the term stress. For instance, Selye [5] describes stress as “non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”, which exceeds the individual coping skills. Therefore, stress can be seen as a short-term (acute) imbalance between the perceived load and the coping strategies available. A persistence of this imbalance results into a manifestation, called chronic stress [6]. Two types of stress can be differentiated: eustress and distress. While eustress is associated with positive feelings and a healthy condition of the body, distress is accompanied with negative feelings and a disturbed body condition [5].

Abstract

Nutritional behaviour is a complex interaction, which can be affected by stress. For the proposed review, various stress indicators have been identified, whereby selected indicators and related measurement tools (e.g. wearables) will be considered in detail. In summary, the combination of data from different stress indicators seems to be a reasonable approach for the measurement of stress. However, the wearables’ features need to be improved and further evaluated within appropriate studies using standardized stress stimuli.

Keywords: nutrition, stress, smart measurement, wearables, digital

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