How can stress affect body composition?

Stress can significantly influence body composition through its effects on metabolism and fat storage. When an individual experiences stress, the body responds by releasing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Elevated cortisol levels are particularly important of interest; this hormone plays a key role in the body's metabolic processes.

Under conditions of prolonged stress, cortisol can lead to an increase in appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods, which may contribute to fat accumulation, particularly in the abdominal area. Furthermore, chronic stress can disrupt normal metabolic functioning, leading to a shift in energy balance that favors fat storage rather than fat utilization. This disruption can manifest as changes in how the body processes and stores carbohydrates and fats, thereby impacting body composition adversely.

Thus, the idea that stress can increase fat storage and disrupt metabolism directly correlates with how the physiological responses to stress can lead to unwanted changes in body composition.