Cortisol Levels and Weight Gain

Cortisol, a stress-related hormone, and weight gain seem to be related to each other in several ways. Various studies undertaken all over the world reveal that cortisol, directly or indirectly, leads to accumulation of fat in our body, especially the abdominal region, and eventually trigger obesity related problems such as high blood pressure and hyperglycemia. Though it is important for various body functions, too much or too less of it can tamper with normal functioning of our body.

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol, also referred to as stress hormone, is basically a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in our body in response to stress and anxiety. Its vital in various body functions, including regulation of blood pressure, facilitation of glucose metabolism, and insulin release. At times, fluctuations in cortisol levels can trigger a series of adverse effects in our body. These adverse effects may include increase in blood pressure, improper functioning of the immune system, etc. The levels of this stress hormone in the body are at their peak in the morning, and gradually decrease with time until they are at their lowest at night. While a slight increase in it can also lead to some positive effects, such as improved memory function and lowered sensitivity to pain in our body, abnormally high levels of cortisol lead to a condition known as Cushing's syndrome.

Cortisol and Weight Gain

There are numerous studies which link cortisol levels with weight gain, and this relationship can be attributed to the propensity of this stress hormone to trigger glucocorticoid effect in our body. In glucocorticoid effect, cortisol helps our body to produce blood sugar from proteins. Excess glucose produced in this process is eventually used in fat production, thus, making the person with increased levels of cortisol gain weight quickly. Owing to the fact that the receptors for cortisol are located in the abdomen, the fat reserves in abdomen are fueled by any increase in cortisol levels. Although low cortisol doesn't make you gain weight, it is responsible for other disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, hyperpigmentation and low blood pressure.

Cortisol hormone is released in response to both physical and emotional stress. Its release in the body brings about a series of changes in the body mechanism - our appetite and insulin levels experience a sudden rise. It plays a significant role in determining the eating habits of the person. A research on the eating habits of individuals, revealed that people with stress induced high cortisol levels tend to eat more high fat foods than the usual amount. This unhealthy eating habit eventually leads to accumulation of fats in the body and causes obesity. More importantly, increased cortisol also hampers the rate of metabolism in the body. Poor eating habits and poor metabolism rate means, that although the person consumes more calories than normal, he can't burn them efficiently. These extra calories thus add to fat deposits, eventually making the person gain weight and become obese.

High levels of cortisol for a prolonged duration don't just make the person gain weight, but also lead to muscle pain, premature aging, insomnia etc. In most of the cases, we tend to ignore some obvious symptoms of high cortisol levels - such as abnormal weight gain, which hampers the diagnosis. Cortisol release in blood flow increases when the person is under stress, which means keeping a check on stress can also help you tackle weight gain caused by increased cortisol. Simply put, stress management techniques and regular exercising can help in keeping your stress, as well as this stress hormone, under control.