US scientists have shown that people who suffer from stress face a higher-than-average risk of gaining weight.
The discovery is particularly relevant as the recession is causing many people to suffer from stress as they worry about how to pay bills, keep their job and avoid losing their home.
Dr Jason Block, from Harvard University, commented: 'Today's economy is stressing people out and stress has been linked to a number of illnesses - such as heart disease, high blood pressure and increased risk for cancer.
'This study shows that stress is also linked to weight gain.'
The researchers followed a group of 1,355 men and women for more than nine years in order the study the impact of stress on individuals' weight.
Publishing their findings in the American Journal of Epidemiology, they reveal that women's waistlines are susceptible to more types of stress, including strained family relationships and feeling limited by circumstances.
Among men, greater weight gain tended to be associated with a lack of decision-making authority and a lack of opportunity to learn new skills and perform interesting duties at work.
A separate study, published in the Lancet medical journal, has found that stress brought on by job losses could lead to a rise in suicide rates and heart attack deaths.