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Stress is Making You Fat!

Summary: No one is truly immune to the effects of stress. But could the stress in your life be adding pounds and inches to your frame?
Air Date: 5/16/13
Duration: 10
Host: Dr. Michael Smith, MD
Stress is Making You Fat!
Could the stress in your life actually impact your waistline? Yes!

We all have a built-in stress response that ultimately keeps us alive during a dangerous situation.

When you experience an acute stressor, the adrenal glands release cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol initiates several lifesaving metabolic changes in your body – one of which is an increase in blood sugar.

The association between cortisol and sugar is the underlying mechanism for stress-induced weight gain.

We’ll explore this connection between stress and body fat and give you some tips to avoid certain stressors in your life.