Is stress the hidden weight we carry?

For decades, we’ve been told that weight gain comes down to what we eat and how much we move. Calories in, calories out. But what if the biggest weight we carry isn’t on our plate or in our trainers, but in our minds? Data from Numan’s Weight Loss Programme sheds light on a long-overlooked contributor to weight gain and poor health outcomes: stress. 

Stress is a major trigger for weight gain

When asked whether life events contributed to weight gain, a staggering 33% of women and 30% of men pointed to stressful situations as the culprit. Chronic stress, too, was reported by 23% of women and 18% of men as a key factor. That’s over half of respondents linking their weight gain to stress.

What’s perhaps more sobering is how these emotions ripple through daily habits. When asked about the biggest challenges to making lifestyle changes, 65% of women and 52% of men cited emotional eating or stress-related behaviour. In other words, most people aren’t just battling a few extra snacks or skipped workouts. They’re trying to rewrite deeply rooted coping mechanisms.

However, stress doesn’t just directly affect your eating habits. When asked about barriers to getting quality sleep, 41% of women and 42% of men named stress as the main disruptor. We already know that sleep plays a huge role in weight regulation, mood, and metabolic health. Poor sleep can lead to hormonal imbalances, impaired judgement around food, and increased cravings. But what’s notable here is how evenly stress affects both men and women in this domain.

So how stressed are we, really?

According to Numan’s Weight Loss Programme participants, 42% of women and 40% of men describe their stress as "moderate"—regularly challenging their ability to get through the day. 22% of both men and women report "high" stress, regularly affecting their productivity and wellbeing.

But surprisingly, just 1% of people—regardless of gender—say they feel stressed rarely. One percent. In a world where mindfulness apps and wellness podcasts are booming, the reality on the ground is that most of us are still carrying a chronic mental load.

How we cope: eating, drinking, and silence

When faced with emotional challenges, the most common coping mechanism reported by women was emotional eating (73%). For men, it wasn’t far behind at 66%.

Support from friends or family came in second—but there’s a rather significant gender gap, with stats showing that 38% of women turn to others, compared to just 21% of men. Men, instead, were more likely to turn to alcohol (36%) than women (26%).

Surprisingly, not many participants turned to healthier outlets. Only 8% of women and 13% of men use physical activity to manage their stress. In many ways, these figures give us a rather dark insight into how our culture continues to normalise destructive coping behaviours while underutilising the tools we know work.

The silent journey of weight loss

Weight loss is often sold as a mission of willpower, discipline, and self-control. But the numbers suggest many people are tackling this journey in silence. A staggering 45% of women and 41% of men reported that few or no people in their lives know they’re even on a weight loss programme despite the fact that behavioural science tells us that accountability and social support significantly improve our chances of success.¹ Without it, people face an uphill battle.

Why? Because the emotional impact of weight goes far beyond physical appearance with 42% of women and 40% of men saying their weight significantly influences how they feel about themselves, their confidence and self-worth. Another 29% of women and 18% of men described the impact as extreme; a central factor in their life that regularly prevents them from doing things they want to do.

And once again, only 1% said their weight does not influence how they feel about themselves. It’s clear we need to shift the narrative. Weight isn’t all about looks, but more about mental health, identity, and social connection.

The case for a new approach

If the majority of people are struggling with stress, emotional eating, disrupted sleep, and poor support systems, then maybe it’s not individuals who are failing diets but the diet industry that has failed them.

What people need isn’t another fad diet or calorie counting formula. They need a programme that understands the psychological roots of weight gain. One that addresses stress management as a core component, and not as an afterthought. They need human connection. Compassion over judgement. Science over trends. Because behind every meal binged or exercise class missed, there might be a deeper story of someone just trying to cope.

The numan take

We often talk about stress as an invisible burden. But this data makes it visible. It’s not just a vague feeling or a buzzword. It’s a measurable, quantifiable factor driving how we eat, sleep, move, and feel about ourselves. The sooner we take it seriously, the better equipped we’ll be to help people make real, lasting change not just to their weight, but to their overall health and happiness.

References

1. ^{Mohr DC, Cuijpers P, Lehman K. Supportive accountability: a model for providing human support to enhance adherence to eHealth interventions. J Med Internet Res. 2011;13(1):e30.}