High Levels of Cortisol can increase hunger and anxiety
Many people with excess stomach / visceral fat are chronically stressed, so they have higher-than-normal circulating levels of cortisol.
This can increase hunger and negatively alter mood including increasing feelings of anxiety, which many people alleviate (a.k.a. “self-medicate”) with food and/or alcohol.
These unnecessary extra calories increase body fat.
Furthermore, chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which directly promotes stomach fat deposition.
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