Stress is everywhere, and chronic stress is known to be harmful not only to our emotional health, but also to our physical health. It can affect the immune system (making us sick more often), the heart (causing high blood pressure and other heart problems) and muscles (causing problems with neck, shoulder and low-back pain), to name just a few concerns.

It can also be linked to overeating, and so contribute to obesity.

Stress eating is a common problem in our fast-paced world, although many people believe they are alone when it comes to this issue. In reality, most people have a tendency to overeat when moderately stressed. That can make controlling food portions particularly difficult.

There may be physiological reasons why we tend to eat more and eat certain types of foods when we are under chronic stress. For example, research suggests that certain brain functions linked to chronic stress compel us to eat. Stress can also compel us to eat faster, potentially increasing the amount we eat even more.

The foods we're more likely to reach for at times of stress are the sugary and starchy favourites we might call "comfort foods". These have properties that affect the brain in soothing ways, making us feel better and reinforcing eating when we are under stress.

So you see, you're not alone. It's just how our bodies are wired to deal with chronic stress.

It's essential to identify whether stress is driving your overeating. If you try to control portions with tricks like using smaller plates, but don't address the real reason for overeating, such tricks won't help.

Is stress eating you? Take the quiz:

- Do you get irritated over minor things?

- Do you often feel anxious, jittery and "hyper"?

- Do people get on your nerves often?

- Is it difficult to control your temper?

- Is it hard to focus on and remember things?

- Are you constantly worrying and thinking about the next thing you have to do?