You may be gaining weight on your face and stomach due to this hormone; know more

Cortisol or the stress hormone is vital for the body’s functioning, including metabolism, immune response, and stress regulation. “Cortisol is essential for life. However, if cortisol levels are high, it leads to weight gain and can be detrimental to a person’s health. Whenever we experience stress, cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, further increasing blood sugar levels for immediate energy and enhancing the brain’s use of glucose. While these actions are beneficial in acute stress situations, chronic stress leads to prolonged cortisol release, which can cause various health issues,” explained Dr Praveen Ramachandra, consultant, endocrinology and human metabolism, SPARSH Hospital, Bengaluru.

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According to Dr Ramachandra, weight gain is seen when cortisol levels are due to “fat redistribution”.

“Cortisol allows the breakdown of muscle tissue to release amino acids for energy, reducing muscle mass and metabolic rate, which can lead to weight gain. This results in the storage of fat, particularly visceral fat around the abdominal area, and subcutaneous fat in the face,” said Dr Ramachandra.

 

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The reason why high cortisol is harmful is because it results in cardiovascular issues, metabolic syndrome like insulin resistance, increases risk of type 2 diabetes, weakens the immune system, reduces bone density, and increases risk of osteoporosis. “It can also lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments,” noted Dr Ramachandra.

The best way to manage it is by consulting an endocrinologist.

Experts urge it is necessary to adhere to certain lifestyle modifications like eating healthy food, managing stress, indulging in physical activity for more than 30 minutes, and avoiding drinking alcohol or caffeine, along with maintaining a good sleep schedule to manage cortisol.