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

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

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

• Can stress cause hormonal imbalance?
• How to Lose Belly Fat: 14 Steps and Why It's Important
• Ten Ways Stress Makes You Fat and Diabetic
• 5 keys to balance fat-burning hormones
• Gut microbiota in obesity 
• Experts warn that endocrine-disrupting chemicals PFAS can cause obesity and osteoporosis
• “Mindful eating” to reduce emotional eating in overweight or obese patients