Impact of Stress on Nutrition and Productivity (A Study of Southern Cross River State, Nigeria) (Published)
Stress is any action or activity that threatens the homeostatic stability of an organism or any response of the body to demands made upon it. It is usually produced by responses to a specific stressor. Stress has been implicated in a wide array of medical illnesses including nutritional disorders. The study is aimed at investigating the effect of stress on nutrition and productivity in Southern Cross River State, Nigeria. Random sampling measures are adopted to survey seven (7) Local Government Areas that constitute southern senatorial district in Cross River and respondents cut across Civil servants, Public servants, Business men, Students, Academic and Administrative staff of schools. Results reveal effects of stress on nutrition is wide ranging, affecting different aspects of our nutrition from food intake to food handling and indirectly by providing an environment for diseases which influence productivity. Stress may induce unhealthy eating habits which includes increasing the desire for certain diets. It also places many metabolic demands on the body and thus may alter the body’s metabolism. Multiple stressors have been found to cause increased catabolism and protein loss. It is recommended that in managing stress and nutritional disorders, a multidisciplinary approach involving professionals from various fields in medical practice should be adopted. The most appropriate management of stress disorders is the elimination of the stressor but where this approach is not feasible or has previously failed other methods to assist the individual cope with the stress can be adopted.
Keywords: Nutritional Disorders, Productivity, Stress