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Stress – can it cause belly fat?

In the long tail of the pandemic, our cortisol levels are consistently in the high zone, lacking their usual up-and-down fluctuations. Staying in this chronic stress state has significant implications for our health – this is widely spoken about and something we are all becoming more aware of.

Let’s explore a fact we don’t hear much of … STRESS AND THE WAISTLINE!

 

In the long tail of the pandemic, our cortisol levels are consistently in the high zone, lacking their usual up-and-down fluctuations. Staying in this chronic stress state has significant implications for our health – this is widely spoken about and something we are all becoming more aware of.

Let’s explore a fact we don’t hear much of … STRESS AND THE WAISTLINE!

 
Within our clever brains, there exist specialised receptors finely attuned to monitor these cortisol levels. When these receptors detect sustained high levels of cortisol, they interpret it as an imminent threat to survival. This stems from our ancestral history, where such a signal would have indicated a potential shortage of food, prompting the body to store fat around our belly for future energy needs.
 

In today’s world, although our threats are more psychological than physical, our bodies respond in much the same way. This means that during periods of intense stress, you might find yourself gaining weight, not around the arms or legs, but specifically around the belly.

 
If you hear yourself saying “I’ve started eating a bit less or I’ve started moving a bit more but this belly fat just isn’t shifting!” this is usually indicative that the fat is there as a stress response and whilst that cortisol level remains high it will keep pushing fat into the belly no matter what dietary or exercise changes are made.

Let me help you build your toolbox of Stress Management techniques, jump on a call and start seeing a reduction in that waistline!