How stress contributes to belly fat

The cumulative effects of chronic stress over a period of time can influence where and how we store fat. Not all fat is created (or stored ) equally. Stress triggers cortisol which results in our “fight or flight” nervous system response. Cortisol is a normally occurring hormone in our body but when there is long term chronic stress it can cause an increase in appetite, contribute to insulin resistance and over the long term help cause breakdown of muscle fibres. Cortisol has a specific impact on the abdominal area of the body because it causes fat to be stored around the mid section of the body . Visceral fat that gets laid down is around the internal organs of the body and this is harmful and can create metabolic disease like cancers, fatty liver disease and diabetes.

Its important to understand how stress affects our psychological health and our habits; reaching for comfort food, destroying motivation and a negative spiral of thoughts.

Our food choices, sleep habits, movement and where we are on our hormonal journey through life all contribute to the laying down of belly fat. Research just out shows that women begin laying down fat without even realising it up to five years prior to menopause simply because of the “stuttering and slowing down” of estrogen.

The good news though, is that there are workarounds to combat the effects of stress and lowering estrogen levels involving a mix of lifestyle choices, movement and exercise that does not mean hours in a gym or a restrictive diet. Have a bespoke lifestyle programme designed for you at a level suited to where you are now, to help avoid metabolic disease in the future. Email Nicole@odysseyskin.co.nz to make an appointment, you’re worth it.

Yoga, deep breathing or mindfulness can turn on the parasympathetic nervous system again and damp down the “noise” of stress.