Wellness Wednesday – Cortisol & Weight Gain Many people notice: • Weight gain despite unchanged diet • Fat accumulating around the abdomen • Increased cravings for sugar or refined carbs • Weight loss becoming harder during stressful seasons When cortisol is elevated: • Blood glucose rises to supply quick energy • Insulin levels increase to manage that glucose • Excess glucose is stored as fat — preferentially in the abdomen Over time, chronic cortisol exposure: • Promotes insulin resistance • Shifts metabolism toward fat storage • Signals the body to conserve energy, not release it Why Dieting Harder Backfires: Calorie restriction during high stress: • Further raises cortisol • Signals scarcity • Increases fat conservation #wellness #weightgain #healthybodyhealthymind #cortisol