Scientists have debunked another myth related to weight gain

Scientists debunk the myth: "stress hormone" is not to blame for fat on the face and waist

The common belief that cortisol leads to characteristic fat deposits has no scientific confirmation, a British expert stated in an interview with The Conversation.

Craig Doig, Associate Professor of Metabolic Health at the University of Nottingham, debunked the popular myth about cortisol's effect on body shape. According to the scientist, this hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, indeed plays an important role in the body - regulating daily rhythms, behavior, blood pressure, and metabolism. However, everyday stresses, although they increase cortisol levels, do not automatically lead to changes in appearance.

The researcher emphasized that trendy terms like "cortisol face" or "cortisol belly" lack scientific basis when talking about healthy people. The connection between high cortisol levels and characteristic fat distribution does exist, but is only observed in Cushing's syndrome - a rare disease associated with pathological hyperactivity of the adrenal glands.

"The amount of cortisol that the body produces during normal stress is incomparable to what happens with Cushing's disease," the expert emphasized.

Doig also noted that the distribution of fat deposits in the body is determined by a complex of factors: genetic characteristics, diet, sleep quality, physical activity level, and overall hormonal balance. Therefore, attributing an exclusive role to cortisol in shaping the figure would be scientifically unfounded.