Cortisol belly refers to the accumulation of belly fat brought on by chronic exposure to high levels of cortisol.
Yet for some people, high levels ofcortisolcan lead to overeating and weight gain, notably in the abdomen.
Stress, steroid use, and tumors can all cause cortisol levels to increase.
Maria Korneeva / Getty Images
Among other things, it helps regulate metabolism and your body’s response to stress.
Excess cortisol stimulates glucose production.
This excess glucose is then typically converted into fat, which gets stored in your body.
With cortisol, it’s stored asabdominal fat(sometimes called central adiposity).
These next steps may include imaging studies to evaluate for an endocrine tumor or other cause.
Treatment is focused on the underlying cause.
Medication
Reducing cortisolrelated to prednisone or other medication is done slowly.
This process is known as tapering over a number of days, rather than just stopping.
They found that mindfulness and meditation, along with relaxation practices, were the most effective.
Underlying Health Conditions
Cushing syndrome can be due to a hormone-producing tumor.
These include:
Can Your Diet Affect Cortisol Belly?
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight can help you lose belly fat.
Among them wasphosphatidylserine, reported to assist in weight loss by reducing stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels.
One brand, CortiSlim, was subject to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action over such claims.
Stress management may require medical assistance.
Summary
Cortisol belly develops when high levels of cortisol lead to the accumulation of abdominal fat.
Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, helps your body manage many vital functions.
Treatment primarily focuses on reducing cortisol levels.
National Health Service.Cushing’s syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Cushing’s syndrome.
2020;10(1):40. doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0729-6
Harvard Health Publishing.Taking aim at belly fat.
Kelsall A, Iqbal A, Newell-Price J.Adrenal incidentaloma: cardiovascular and metabolic effects of mild cortisol excess.Gland Surg.
2020;9(1):94104. doi:10.21037/gs.2019.11.19
University of Rochester Medical School.Cortisol (blood).
Kirschbaum C.What is hair cortisol analysis and how can it aid endocrinologists?Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab.
2024 Jun 20:1-2. doi:10.1080/17446651.2024.2365786
Hospital for Special Surgery.Steroid side effects: How to reduce drug side effects of corticosteroids.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and key in 2 diabetes.
Naidoo U.Eat to beat stress.Am J Lifestyle Med.
2024 Sep 2;29(17):4157. doi:10.3390/molecules29174157
Harvard School of Public Health.Stress and health.
2024 Jan;159:106415. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106415
Oregon Health Sciences University Brain Institute.Cushing disease/Cushing syndrome.
International Diabetes Federation.The IDF consensus worldwide definition of the metabolic syndrome.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA Warning Letter to CortiSlim.
2022 Jan 8;23(2):673. doi:10.3390/ijms23020673
