How Stress Makes You Fat

Prolonged stress brought on by financial problems, relationship difficulties or individual coping strategies can increase levels of hormones called glucocorticoids (GC). Chronically high levels of GC suppress the immune system and are an important component of the overtraining syndrome that plagues intensely training athletes. High levels of GC also promote obesity by increasing caloric and fat intake, creating increased blood fat levels, and boosting fat deposition. They also may increase the number of fat cells (hyperplasia), which make it increasingly difficult to control body fat. We do not completely understand the role of glucocorticoids in promoting obesity. (Metabolism Clinical Experimental 60: 1500–1510, 2011)