Chronically elevated cortisol levels increase
blood sugar levels, which may contribute to
insulin resistance.Elevated cortisol also contributes to
weight gain by inducing stress-related
overeating. (Remember this from the last
chapter?) Cortisol stimulates the drive to eat
supernormally stimulating, nutrient-poor,
carbohydrate-dense foods, which may reduce
your stress ... but increases your girth.
Elevated cortisol levels preferentially
direct body fat to the abdominal region
(instead of, say, the buttocks or thighs).
Excessive abdominal fat (also called central
obesity) is part of metabolic syndrome, a
collection of highly correlated symptoms:
obesity, high blood pressure, insulin
resistance/hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia,
elevated triglycerides, and low HDL (“good”)
cholesterol. Increased central obesity is also a
direct risk factor for conditions like heart