Did you know that high-stress levels are closely linked with the accumulation of fats around your stomach?
Prolonged stress can make you add a lot of pounds to your belly, and such a type of belly is known as a stress belly.
Whenever you are stressed, the adrenal glands release a hormone known as cortisol that causes weight gain.
Understand How Cortisol hormone causes Belly Fat
Cortisol is an essential hormone that controls blood sugar levels and the body’s metabolism. It is also part of how your respond to fight or flight.
Whenever you are faced with a problem, cortisol will slow down some body functions to focus on that issue that is stressing you out.
 If you can overcome that stress, your body will get back to normal.Â
However, this not possible when you have prolonged and intense stress. Cortisol levels will increase to keep up with the situation that you are going through.
Along with this, you could suffer from high blood pressure.
Studies reveal that increased cortisol levels in your body can cause abdominal obesity and increase your body weight.Â
Cortisol will make fats to be redistributed and stored in the abdominal area.Â
Additionally, it increases your appetite. If you are a person who finds comfort in food when stressed, you are likely to experience a lot of weight gain in your abdomen.Â
How To Treat Stress Belly Caused By Cortisol
The primary way to treat or avoid a stressed-out belly is to avoid stress.
It is almost impossible to avoid prolonged and intense stress. But there are things that you can do to manage it and minimize its impact.Â
1) ExerciseÂ
Exercising is an excellent way to unwind and boost your mood. You can do less intense exercises like walking and also intense workouts such as running and weight lifting.
2) Watch your diet
Even though you are stressed, avoid overeating food than you usually would or snacking on unhealthy foods as this will lead to the accumulation of more fats in your tummy.
3) Avoid alcohol or drink it in moderation
When stressed, you might drink a lot of alcohol to ease the pain. However, this will only accelerate your problem with stress belly.
Alcohol contains a lot of empty calories that will be stored as fats around your waist.
4) Consult a doctor
If your stress won’t go away, it would be wise to consult with a doctor. The anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and rapid increase in weight could be a sign of a bigger problem.Â
Conclusion
While cortisol is an essential hormone in the body, too much of it can lead to an increase in abdominal fat. This is not healthy.
While you may not avoid stress altogether, it is wise to learn ways to cope with it and manage it.
Exercising and eating healthy foods are ways to prevent further accumulation of belly fat due to stress.
If you are stressed, and your belly keeps increasing, it would be wise to seek doctors' intervention. They may give medication and prevent further issues.Â
