Stress, food cravings and consumption: an exploration of influencing factors and the role of physical exercise in alleviating stress-induced eating

Stress-induced eating is often defined as an increase in unhealthy, energy-dense food consumption in response to stress. However, the precise nature of the relationship between stress and food consumption appears to vary both between and within individuals – and a better understanding of the dispositional and situational factors that influence food consumption in response to stress is needed. Though physical exercise is commonly promoted as a stress management technique, researchers have yet to establish whether exercise can attenuate stress-induced eating. This thesis examines the effect of exercise on food consumption following stressor exposure, and explores the factors determining stress-induced eating.