Stress in women may slow metabolism.

• Position: Weight Gain - Brief article

Experiencing one or more stressful events the day before eating a single high-fat meal can slow the body's metabolism, potentially contributing to up to 11 pounds in weight gain per year in women, according to research published in Biological Psychiatry.

Stressed women also have higher levels of insulin, which contributes to the storage of fat, and less fat oxidation--the conversion of large fat molecules into smaller molecules that can be used as fuel. Fat that is not burned is stored.

We know ... that we're more likely to eat the wrong foods when we're stressed, and our...