High levels of stress can give you a pot belly

Stress plays a crucial role can the accumulation of belly fat. High levels of stress trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that, when chronically elevated, can lead to fat deposition in the abdominal area.
This pot belly not only affects your appearance but also increases the risk of various health issues.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol as part of the “fight or flight” response. Studies have shown that elevated cortisol levels can lead to increased appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods, particularly those high in sugar and fat.
This pot belly not only affects your appearance but also increases the risk of various health issues.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol as part of the “fight or flight” response. Studies have shown that elevated cortisol levels can lead to increased appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods, particularly those high in sugar and fat.
Cortisol also promotes fat storage in the abdominal area, which is more metabolically active and associated with higher health risks, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Even exercise and diet cannot help much with belly fat if stress is elevated.
“We underestimate how stress causes fat accumulation, especially visceral fat. And we just keep on focusing on exercise and diet,” wrote dietitian Deepta Nagpal on X.
Visceral fat, also known as belly fat, is the fat that surrounds your liver, intestines, and other internal organs beneath your abdominal muscles.
Some of this fat is stored in the omentum, a layer of tissue under the muscles. As more fat is added, this tissue becomes harder and thicker, making your waistline bigger. Source: India Today