Why does stress make you fat? Discover the impact of cortisol on your | somosmunar Skip to main content
  • Español
  • English
  • Antigua & Barbuda

    Antigua & Barbuda

    (XCD $)

  • Argentina

    Argentina

    (USD $)

  • Aruba

    Aruba

    (AWG ƒ)

  • Australia

    Australia

    (AUD $)

  • Austria

    Austria

    (EUR €)

  • Bahamas

    Bahamas

    (BSD $)

  • Barbados

    Barbados

    (BBD $)

  • Belgium

    Belgium

    (EUR €)

  • Belize

    Belize

    (BZD $)

  • Bermuda

    Bermuda

    (USD $)

  • Bolivia

    Bolivia

    (BOB Bs.)

  • Brazil

    Brazil

    (USD $)

  • Canada

    Canada

    (CAD $)

  • Chile

    Chile

    (USD $)

  • Colombia

    Colombia

    (USD $)

  • Costa Rica

    Costa Rica

    (CRC ₡)

  • Croatia

    Croatia

    (EUR €)

  • Czechia

    Czechia

    (CZK Kč)

  • Denmark

    Denmark

    (DKK kr.)

  • Dominican Republic

    Dominican Republic

    (DOP $)

  • Ecuador

    Ecuador

    (USD $)

  • El Salvador

    El Salvador

    (USD $)

  • Estonia

    Estonia

    (EUR €)

  • Finland

    Finland

    (EUR €)

  • France

    France

    (EUR €)

  • Germany

    Germany

    (EUR €)

  • Greece

    Greece

    (EUR €)

  • Guatemala

    Guatemala

    (GTQ Q)

  • Honduras

    Honduras

    (HNL L)

  • Hungary

    Hungary

    (HUF Ft)

  • Iceland

    Iceland

    (ISK kr)

  • Ireland

    Ireland

    (EUR €)

  • Italy

    Italy

    (EUR €)

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    (EUR €)

  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    (EUR €)

  • Luxembourg

    Luxembourg

    (EUR €)

  • Malta

    Malta

    (EUR €)

  • Mexico

    Mexico

    (USD $)

  • Netherlands

    Netherlands

    (EUR €)

  • Nicaragua

    Nicaragua

    (NIO C$)

  • Norway

    Norway

    (USD $)

  • Panama

    Panama

    (USD $)

  • Paraguay

    Paraguay

    (PYG ₲)

  • Peru

    Peru

    (PEN S/.)

  • Poland

    Poland

    (PLN zł)

  • Portugal

    Portugal

    (EUR €)

  • Slovakia

    Slovakia

    (EUR €)

  • Slovenia

    Slovenia

    (EUR €)

  • Spain

    Spain

    (EUR €)

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    (SEK kr)

  • Switzerland

    Switzerland

    (CHF CHF)

  • United Kingdom

    United Kingdom

    (GBP £)

  • United States

    United States

    (USD $)

  • Venezuela

    Venezuela

    (USD $)

Why does stress make you fat? Discover the impact of cortisol on your weight

¿Por qué el estrés engorda? Descubre el impacto del cortisol en tu peso

Spoiled one, stop blaming yourself for giving in to sweets and fast food.

It's not always a lack of willpower. Those cravings that increase your waistline and weight are caused by cortisol, the stress hormone.

Why does stress make you fat? In this article, you'll learn about the connection between cortisol and weight gain, as well as a powerful strategy to stop stress eating.

The impact of cortisol on your body: how stress makes you fat

Why do I gain weight when I'm stressed? Here are the main reasons:

  1. It causes more cravings : After a “crazy” day, do you feel like reaching for a pizza or a cake? It’s the elevated cortisol that throws your hunger and satiety hormones out of control, prompting you to reach for snacks that calm you down for a few hours and eat them uncontrollably.
  2. Slower metabolism : Stressing out all the time causes your metabolism to burn fat more slowly, so you accumulate it in your belly.
  3. Increases abdominal fat : Stress makes your belly fat, because abdominal fat cells are activated faster with high cortisol than other cells in your body.
  4. Insulin goes haywire : When you're very stressed, your insulin doesn't process the sugar in your food properly. This causes you to have a ferocious appetite for sweets.
  5. You sleep poorly : Are you overwhelmed by worries and fears when you go to bed? Stress disrupts your sleep and therefore your body cannot work on the weight loss that occurs while you sleep. And because hunger and satiety hormones are affected, you will feel more like snacking the next day.
  6. You move less : You can gain weight due to stress because fatigue makes you more sedentary, causing you to burn fewer calories.
  7. You choose less healthy foods : When you are overwhelmed by so much stress, it is harder to plan what you eat and easier to fall into temptation. You even opt for street food, which is not the healthiest.
  8. The thyroid is affected: the duo, stress and hypothyroidism , causes weight gain, since cortisol slows down the thyroid (hypothyroidism) and it does not burn fat as it should.
  9. It disrupts your microbiota: Stress destroys the beneficial bacteria in your gut that support weight loss. This limits your ability to lose weight.
  10. Your liver has a hard time detoxing : When this organ is overloaded with stress, it has a hard time eliminating toxins that cause weight gain and inflammation.

A strategy to avoid overeating due to stress

Mindful eating is a strategy that gets to the root of the problem and has helped many of my favorites reduce their binges and enjoy their meals.
There are 5 steps:
  1. Before eating, evaluate whether you are very hungry or not.
  2. No cell phones or TV while eating.
  3. Feel the flavors, textures and aromas of your meals.
  4. Chew slowly.
  5. Stop eating when you feel satisfied; don't wait until you are completely full.

Lose those extra pounds caused by stress , with intention and perseverance; in a short time, you will discover that stress and weight loss are no longer enemies.

Important: This content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. If you have any health conditions, please consult your doctor.
Reference studies

Comments

Be the first to comment.
All comments are moderated before being published.