{"id":19658,"date":"2021-03-16T23:13:02","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T23:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=19658"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"cortisol-belly-fat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Get_your_personalized\" >Get your personalized<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Does_Cortisol_Cause_Belly_Fat\" >Does Cortisol Cause Belly Fat?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#What_Are_The_Dangers_Posed_By_Belly_Fat_Visceral_Fat\" >What Are The Dangers Posed By Belly Fat (Visceral Fat)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#How_To_Get_Rid_Of_Cortisol_Belly_Fat\" >How To Get Rid Of Cortisol Belly Fat?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Reduce_Psychological_Stress\" >Reduce Psychological Stress<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Exercise\" >Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Dieting\" >Dieting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Other_Methods\" >Other Methods<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Which_Vitamins_Help_Lose_Cortisol_Belly_Fat\" >Which Vitamins Help Lose Cortisol Belly Fat?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#The_FDA_And_Dietary_Supplements\" >The FDA And Dietary Supplements<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#_DISCLAIMER\" >\u00a0DISCLAIMER:<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#SOURCES\" >SOURCES:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s a lot of information about how stress can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/does-wine-make-you-fat\/\">weight gain<\/a>. It&#8217;s true, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you don&#8217;t need the body&#8217;s stress hormone. Cortisol is essential for your body&#8217;s fight or flight response; however, it causes fat storage in your abdomen when it&#8217;s in excess.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-single-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-title-wrapper\">\n            <h3 class=\"ad-single-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_personalized\"><\/span>Get your personalized<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n            <span class=\"ad-single-sub-title color-green\">\n                <svg class=\"icon-sparkle\" width=\"36\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 21\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                          d=\"M34.6837 0.515943C34.8247 0.835947 34.9421 1.16291 34.9891 1.48987C35.1417 2.64466 35.3179 6.51949 35.2592 7.29863C35.2592 7.53515 35.1887 7.7995 35.0243 8.01516C34.7307 8.39777 33.9791 8.4256 33.5681 8.07081C33.4154 7.94559 33.3215 7.77863 33.2745 7.61863C33.1453 7.15254 33.0396 6.68645 32.9809 6.22035C32.8165 4.81512 32.6638 3.40293 32.5581 1.9977C32.5229 1.53161 32.6051 1.05856 32.6991 0.592466C32.7695 0.244637 33.251 -0.0197144 33.6973 0.00115537C34.2257 0.0289818 34.5546 0.230723 34.6837 0.515943ZM18.6184 9.78225C18.5734 9.67557 18.5344 9.57528 18.4971 9.47956C18.4178 9.27568 18.3465 9.09257 18.2426 8.91267C16.7159 6.24133 14.2615 3.86217 11.4665 1.60128C11.1377 1.33693 10.7267 1.08649 10.2687 0.919531C10.0221 0.829095 9.52885 0.843009 9.247 0.933445C9.03562 1.00301 8.88295 1.27432 8.92992 1.42736C9.01213 1.71954 9.18828 2.01868 9.4349 2.28303C11.0555 4.02913 12.6879 5.76829 14.3437 7.50048C14.8308 8.0068 15.3395 8.50887 15.8473 9.01L15.8473 9.01001C15.9883 9.14921 16.1293 9.28833 16.2697 9.42746C16.4811 9.64311 16.7159 9.85181 16.9626 10.0466C17.2327 10.2692 17.6437 10.4014 18.0547 10.2553C18.0691 10.2501 18.0836 10.245 18.0981 10.2399C18.1097 10.2358 18.1213 10.2318 18.1329 10.2278C18.3785 10.1424 18.6184 10.0589 18.6184 9.78225ZM1.98942 20.1407C2.17783 20.1221 2.37674 20.105 2.58175 20.0875C2.99012 20.0525 3.42272 20.0154 3.84492 19.9598C6.34632 19.6259 8.84771 19.292 11.3374 18.9442C11.8776 18.8676 12.406 18.7355 12.8875 18.5824C13.5334 18.3807 13.7566 18.0954 13.6509 17.7824C13.5452 17.4694 13.1224 17.2746 12.3826 17.2676C11.8776 17.2607 11.3374 17.2676 10.8559 17.3372C7.69683 17.8102 4.5378 18.2972 1.3905 18.7911C1.03819 18.8468 0.674137 18.9442 0.404034 19.0833C-0.2771 19.4242 -0.065712 19.9598 0.803314 20.092C1.01858 20.1228 1.25262 20.1258 1.51135 20.1291C1.66195 20.131 1.82092 20.133 1.98942 20.1407Z\"\n                          fill=\"#17B991\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n               meal plan!\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-desc-wrapper\">\n            <p class=\"ad-single-desc\">What's your main health goal?<\/p>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Lose weight<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Feel great<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <img class=\"ad-single-img\" alt=\"health-food\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/health-food.webp\">\n    <\/section>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fatty adipose tissue, known as <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-exercise-to-lose-belly-fat\/\">belly fat<\/a>, accumulates and causes far more health issues such as type two diabetes and heart disease. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of this fat. Let&#8217;s see how!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Cortisol_Cause_Belly_Fat\"><\/span><b>Does Cortisol Cause Belly Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, cortisol can cause belly fat, but it&#8217;s not a direct reaction to its secretion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cortisol is the primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands located on top of the kidney. During stressful events, physiological or emotional, the hypothalamus located in the brain sends a message, via the pituitary glands, to the adrenal glands to secrete the hormone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hormone, along with adrenaline, then responds by increasing the body&#8217;s metabolic rate and energy production through glucose. This is to provide the body with extra fuel to get it through whatever the stressful event might be. When cortisol is chronically in excess, glucose\/blood sugar that isn\u2019t actually needed as fuel for the body is converted into fat stored in the abdomen; belly fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s also called abdominal obesity, central obesity, central adiposity, intra-abdominal fat, or visceral fat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When stress is a prolonged physiological occurrence, the body continues to secrete cortisol above the required amount as it awaits use. The excess cortisol levels remain circulating the body for extended periods, which then causes the belly fat to develop and increase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, cortisol weight gain belly is a different type of fat storage that isn&#8217;t converted to body fuel easily. If you&#8217;re under stress often, your body continues to build this fat reserve in your abdomen until your belly apple-shaped.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s not the only way cortisol causes belly fat. It can also induce the urge to eat often, which causes obesity (not necessarily in the abdomen). However, this is dependent on your body type, among other factors (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s13679-018-0306-y\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-lower-cortisol\/\">Foods That Lower Cortisol: Bringing The Stress Hormone Back Into Balance<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Dangers_Posed_By_Belly_Fat_Visceral_Fat\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36517 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"cortisol belly fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5127-convert.io_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>What Are The Dangers Posed By Belly Fat (Visceral Fat)?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we look into the dangers, have a look at the image below. Spot the belly fat indicated as visceral fat? As you can see, the fat surrounds the body&#8217;s vital organs, such as the liver, intestines, and other internal organs. Meaning it can be pretty harmful to the functioning of these organs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excess visceral fat can cause severe health issues such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Chronic heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Type two diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Hypertension<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Gynecological problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Cancer &#8211; breast and colorectal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Alzheimer\u2019s disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, excess cortisol levels\u00a0from glucocorticoid use or pituitary tumors can cause<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/cushings-syndrome\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cushing&#8217;s syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which leads to more abdominal obesity as the fat gets firmer and thicker, covering the entire abdomen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress-induced abdominal fat secretes large amounts of inflammatory molecules that contribute to insulin resistance, leading to glucose intolerance and type two diabetes (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3725490\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/basics\/insulin-resistance.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Research suggests that visceral fat may secrete a protein called retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) that may increase insulin resistance (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4419494\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Harvard Health, visceral fat may increase your risk for asthma, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and some cancers (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/taking-aim-at-belly-fat\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Whether you\u2019re looking to simply pep up your fitness routine, jazz up your diet with mouth-watering low-calorie recipes or want to get your act together and significantly drop that number on your scale \u2013 BetterMe app has got you covered! <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\">Improve your body<\/a> and revamp your life with us!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Get_Rid_Of_Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36518 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"cortisol belly fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5125-convert.io_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>How To Get Rid Of Cortisol Belly Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are four ways you can use to get rid of cortisol <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/32-foods-that-burn-belly-fat-fast\/\">belly fat<\/a>. It&#8217;s not a fast solution; instead, the aim is to reduce cortisol, and lose belly fat. Once the level of cortisol in your bloodstream is moderated to safe levels, then you can begin to see the effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reduce_Psychological_Stress\"><\/span><b>Reduce Psychological Stress<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visceral obesity might be the body&#8217;s way of adapting to stress (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/14618117\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). But it doesn&#8217;t have to remain that way. There are several ways you can try and manage stress. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Reading<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Taking <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-matcha-or-green-tea-better-for-weight-loss\/\">tea<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Meditating<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Socialize with friends<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Use relaxation techniques such as listening to music, laughing, and having fun<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Take on a new hobby<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Join a new class such as <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/yoga-to-lose-weight-in-10-days\/\">yoga<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 Get a pet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercise\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36519 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"cortisol belly fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5124-convert.io_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Exercise<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily exercises can aid you in reducing visceral fat and boost your mood. Try out moderate-intensity exercises, strength training, resistance training, and endurance. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity every day and one day for rest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of exercises you can do include cardio, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, and circuit training.\u00a0 For strengthening exercises, you can do weights, push-ups, and squats. Sit-ups are counterintuitive and don&#8217;t necessarily work against visceral fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You could also try swapping your daily activities such as using the stair rather than the lift, taking brisk walks to your nearest store rather than using your car.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HIIT (high-intensity exercise) isn&#8217;t encouraged as it can trigger an increase in cortisol levels to build more glucose energy for your body. Then again, it depends on your physical fitness and how much cortisol your body needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hiit-workouts-for-men\/\">HIIT Workouts For Men: Pack A Ton Of Work Into A Short Amount Of Time<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dieting\"><\/span><b>Dieting<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food has a significant impact on our bodies. Therefore, watching what we eat will give substantial results. Here are a few ways you can change up <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/creating-a-diet-plan\/\">your diet<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Include lots of vitamins &#8211; there are no specific vitamins that will cut down the visceral fat, but they have many other benefits. <\/span><\/span>You can get vitamins and minerals from a variety of different foods.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat well-balanced meals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add dark green and leafy vegetables.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add lean sources of protein such as seafood and poultry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, beans, and whole grains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take plenty of dark chocolate, as it&#8217;s said to reduce your cortisol levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take tea &#8211; unsweetened black or green tea are excellent choices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce added sugar intake.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take lots of bananas, avocados, and pears.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take yogurt.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans fats) and high-calorie or high-carbohydrate foods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid coffee &#8211; not only does it interfere with your sleep, but caffeine cortisol belly fat is encouraged as the stimulant in coffee shoots up your stress hormones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Methods\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36521 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"cortisol belly fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Frame-5119-convert.io_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Other Methods<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More ways to reduce belly fat are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minimize use of alcohol.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid smoking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get a good night\u2019s sleep of about six to nine hours each night &#8211; sleep deprivation increases cortisol in the bloodstream.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid situations that trigger stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/14-day-lemon-water-challenge\/\">Stay hydrated.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If you struggle to even flirt with the idea of giving up your favorite foods or working out till your legs give way \u2013 BetterMe app is here to breathe a fresh perspective into the way you view the weight loss process! Check out the app and <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\">experience the fun side of fitness and dieting<\/a> with BetterMe!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Vitamins_Help_Lose_Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><\/span><b>Which Vitamins Help Lose Cortisol Belly Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cortisol belly fat myth is that specific vitamins such as B, C, and D can help you lose belly fat. Unfortunately, there are no direct links as to how these vitamins will help you lose fat. Supplements as well are unreliable as they mostly aren\u2019t regulated by the FDA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many companies advertise their products(supplements), claiming they can aid with losing weight or control of cortisol in the body. You should know that they were warned by the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/cases\/2004\/10\/041005ltrwindowrock.pdf\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal Trade Commission (FTC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against such claims (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/cases\/2004\/10\/041005ltrwindowrock.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good example is CortiSlim which was offered a warning letter by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The manufacturer was warned against selling and advertising products without substantiated evidence\/ proof of their benefits (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/quackwatch.org\/infomercial\/fda\/cortislim\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The letter indicated that if the supplement worked, it ought to be regulated as a drug. Since the drug didn&#8217;t work, the manufacturers had to restructure their products, eventually pushing them off the market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_FDA_And_Dietary_Supplements\"><\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32224 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4455-1024x576.png\" alt=\"cortisol belly fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4455.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4455-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4455.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4455.png 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>The FDA And Dietary Supplements<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with dietary supplements, they aren&#8217;t regulated by the FDA, and they aren&#8217;t required to undergo testing or research. Which means you can&#8217;t be sure about their authenticity. They&#8217;re just weight loss products citing a cortisol-blocking effect that may come and go in the market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/0261-dietary-supplements\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These supplements, such as phosphatidylserine that claim to reduce the brain&#8217;s reaction to stress, thus reducing cortisol and assisting in weight loss, are only available in the market but are not regulated hence unreliable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, there are herbs and natural supplements that claim to lower stress and cortisol levels, such as Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Lemon balm, and Chamomile. Again, there isn&#8217;t substantial evidence to show that they do work and are safe for consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best thing would be to stick to the natural solutions explained in the previous section. These are eating well, avoiding and managing <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/emptying-mind\/\">stress<\/a>, exercising, sleeping, and enjoying nature, among other methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><b>Conclusion<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly fat is a common problem for many. What you don&#8217;t know is that cortisol is one of the leading causes of abdominal obesity. And even though it seems to affect men more than women, belly fat causes chronic health issues in both sexes which may be harder to manage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suspect you have belly fat, follow those simple remedies like exercising and eating a well-balanced diet filled with lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and carbohydrates. Manage your stress levels and ensure you get a good night\u2019s sleep. That should help you prevent and get rid of cortisol belly fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you want your weight loss plan to be efficient, don&#8217;t forget to do some exercise on the regular basis.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Cortisol_Belly_Fat\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_DISCLAIMER\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>DISCLAIMER:<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SOURCES\"><\/span><b>SOURCES:<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/stress-cortisol-and-abdominal-fat\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Institute of Stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (stress.org)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3725490\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body fat distribution and insulin resistance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2013, ncbi.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/cushings-syndrome\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cushing&#8217;s syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018, niddk.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/0261-dietary-supplements\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dietary supplements<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(2011, consumer.ftc.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quackwatch.org\/infomercial\/fda\/cortislim\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FDA warning letter to CortiSlim<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2004, quackwatch.org)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/cases\/2004\/10\/041005ltrwindowrock.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal Trade Commission<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ( 2004, ftc.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au\/health\/ConditionsAndTreatments\/Hormones-cortisol-and-corticosteroids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormones &#8211; cortisol and corticosteroids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (betterhealth.vic.gov.au)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/322335\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to remove cortisol from the body<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, medicalnewstoday.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/basics\/insulin-resistance.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insulin resistance and diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2019,cdc.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/14618117\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is visceral obesity a physiological adaptation to stress?<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2003, ncbi.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4419494\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serum retinol-binding protein 4 is associated with visceral fat in human<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2015, ncbi.nih.go)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2000\/11\/001120072314.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress May Cause Excess Abdominal Fat In Otherwise Slender Women<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2000, sciencedaily.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s13679-018-0306-y\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress and obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018, link.springer.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/taking-aim-at-belly-fat\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking aim at belly fat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2010, health.harvard.edu)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/320929#how-is-visceral-fat-rated\">Visceral fat<\/a> (2018, medicalnewstoday.com)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s a lot of information about how stress can cause weight gain. It&#8217;s true, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you don&#8217;t need the body&#8217;s stress hormone. Cortisol is essential for your body&#8217;s fight or flight response; however, it causes fat storage in your abdomen when it&#8217;s in excess. The fatty adipose tissue, known as belly fat, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"coauthors":[117,87],"class_list":["post-19658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weight-loss"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you have \u2605 CORTISOL BELLY FAT? \u27a4 There are many health risks associated with stress related weight gain. Here is everything you need to know.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you have \u2605 CORTISOL BELLY FAT? \u27a4 There are many health risks associated with stress related weight gain. Here is everything you need to know.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ZindzyGracia, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ZindzyGracia, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f17673def6e76d2649ffa32b13f712e3\"},\"headline\":\"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\"},\"wordCount\":1853,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Weight Loss\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There's a lot of information about how stress can cause <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/does-wine-make-you-fat\/\\\">weight gain<\/a>. It's true, but that doesn't mean you don't need the body's stress hormone. Cortisol is essential for your body's fight or flight response; however, it causes fat storage in your abdomen when it's in excess.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The fatty adipose tissue, known as <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-exercise-to-lose-belly-fat\/\\\">belly fat<\/a>, accumulates and causes far more health issues such as type two diabetes and heart disease. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of this fat. Let's see how!<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>Does Cortisol Cause Belly Fat?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Yes, cortisol can cause belly fat, but it's not a direct reaction to its secretion.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Cortisol is the primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands located on top of the kidney. During stressful events, physiological or emotional, the hypothalamus located in the brain sends a message, via the pituitary glands, to the adrenal glands to secrete the hormone.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The hormone, along with adrenaline, then responds by increasing the body's metabolic rate and energy production through glucose. This is to provide the body with extra fuel to get it through whatever the stressful event might be. When cortisol is chronically in excess, glucose\/blood sugar that isn\u2019t actually needed as fuel for the body is converted into fat stored in the abdomen; belly fat.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">It's also called abdominal obesity, central obesity, central adiposity, intra-abdominal fat, or visceral fat.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">When stress is a prolonged physiological occurrence, the body continues to secrete cortisol above the required amount as it awaits use. The ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\",\"name\":\"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Do you have \u2605 CORTISOL BELLY FAT? \u27a4 There are many health risks associated with stress related weight gain. 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Here is everything you need to know.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline","og_description":"Do you have \u2605 CORTISOL BELLY FAT? \u27a4 There are many health risks associated with stress related weight gain. Here is everything you need to know.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"ZindzyGracia, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ZindzyGracia, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f17673def6e76d2649ffa32b13f712e3"},"headline":"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/"},"wordCount":1853,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg","articleSection":["Weight Loss"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There's a lot of information about how stress can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/does-wine-make-you-fat\/\">weight gain<\/a>. It's true, but that doesn't mean you don't need the body's stress hormone. Cortisol is essential for your body's fight or flight response; however, it causes fat storage in your abdomen when it's in excess.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fatty adipose tissue, known as <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-exercise-to-lose-belly-fat\/\">belly fat<\/a>, accumulates and causes far more health issues such as type two diabetes and heart disease. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of this fat. Let's see how!<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Does Cortisol Cause Belly Fat?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, cortisol can cause belly fat, but it's not a direct reaction to its secretion.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cortisol is the primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands located on top of the kidney. During stressful events, physiological or emotional, the hypothalamus located in the brain sends a message, via the pituitary glands, to the adrenal glands to secrete the hormone.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hormone, along with adrenaline, then responds by increasing the body's metabolic rate and energy production through glucose. This is to provide the body with extra fuel to get it through whatever the stressful event might be. When cortisol is chronically in excess, glucose\/blood sugar that isn\u2019t actually needed as fuel for the body is converted into fat stored in the abdomen; belly fat.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It's also called abdominal obesity, central obesity, central adiposity, intra-abdominal fat, or visceral fat.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When stress is a prolonged physiological occurrence, the body continues to secrete cortisol above the required amount as it awaits use. The ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/","name":"Cortisol Belly Fat: Explaining How \u2018The Stress Hormone\u2019 Is Expanding Your Waistline - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shutterstock_1840194529.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"Do you have \u2605 CORTISOL BELLY FAT? \u27a4 There are many health risks associated with stress related weight gain. 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