While crying does require the body to expend energy, the amount is too small to contribute meaningfully to weight loss. The act of shedding tears is a physical response that uses muscles and triggers hormonal shifts, but the actual calorie expenditure is negligible compared to any intentional physical activity. The true relationship between crying and body weight is found not in the tears themselves, but in the long-term metabolic effects of the underlying stress. Crying serves a much more prominent role in psychological and emotional regulation than it does in physical weight management.
The Minimal Calorie Burn of Crying
The process of crying involves muscular contractions and increased respiration, requiring a small amount of energy expenditure. When a person cries, facial muscles, the diaphragm, and the muscles around the eyes are engaged, temporarily raising the heart rate and metabolism. This physical effort consumes calories, but only at a rate comparable to very light activities like sitting quietly or laughing gently. Estimates suggest that active crying burns approximately 1.3 calories per minute, which is insignificant when considering overall daily energy needs. This minimal caloric cost is far too low to create the sustained energy deficit required for weight loss.
Decoding the Chemical Composition of Tears
Tears are categorized into three main types: basal, reflex, and emotional. Emotional tears are distinct because they contain a slightly different chemical makeup, primarily composed of water, salt, and various proteins, along with trace amounts of hormones. These hormones include prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and a natural painkiller called Leu-enkephalin. This led to the idea that crying is a form of emotional “detoxification” that removes stress hormones from the body. However, the concentration and volume of these hormones released through tears are extremely small and do not represent a significant metabolic clearance mechanism.
The Underlying Role of Stress Hormones
The emotional distress that often precedes crying has a profound, indirect relationship with weight regulation. Chronic stress triggers the sustained release of cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone central to the body’s fight-or-flight response. Prolonged elevation of this hormone is metabolically disruptive, signaling the body to prioritize fat storage, particularly in the abdominal region where fat cells possess a higher density of cortisol receptors. The hormone also promotes gluconeogenesis, which creates new glucose and can lead to elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance. Furthermore, persistently high cortisol levels increase appetite and intensify cravings for high-calorie foods.
Crying vs. Meaningful Weight Management Strategies
The minute energy expenditure associated with crying cannot be considered a viable strategy for weight management. To achieve sustainable weight reduction, the body needs to consistently burn more calories than it consumes over an extended period. The calories burned during a prolonged bout of crying are roughly equivalent to the energy used during only a few minutes of brisk walking. Effective weight management relies on proven, consistent methods such as maintaining a caloric deficit through balanced nutrition and engaging in regular physical exercise. While crying is important for emotional processing, it serves a psychological function, not a physical fat-burning one.