Scientists find anxiety gene that also makes you comfort eat

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In the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers have discovered that there's a "stress switch" that seems to lead to diabetes and obesity.

The Israeli researchers created their own method for changing the activity of the gene in the brain, causing it to release varied amounts of a protein called Ucn3.

They discovered that increased levels of Ucn3 caused anxiety and changes in metabolism.
With increased levels of Ucn3, the bodies of mice used more sugar and less fatty acids and metabolic rates increased, showing the first stages of type 2 diabetes.

Dr Chen added: "Until now the lines drawn between stress, appetite and anxiety were pointed out, but never fully explained.