Abdominal Fat
Hormones, anxiety, and belly fat are a triple threat for those who are stressed. At any time you feel stressed, your body will dump a load of stress-related hormones, like cortisol, CRH, and adrenaline. The brain and body are producing the fight-or-flight response. As this response dies down, though, any alertness or anxiety you felt will fade, and your body will start to signal that you need to replenish energy, primarily in the form of carbohydrates and fat.
Then, because stress makes your body want to hold onto that energy, it stores it as a layer of fat around your organs. The downside to this is the excess belly fat causing more problems than it is good for. Abdominal fat is known to release chemicals that cause more inflammation, oftentimes leading to diabetes and heart disease.
Furthermore, some people experience a need for “stress eating” or “emotional eating,” as a symptom of that anxiety and stress. Because you seek food for comfort, you may end up overeating as a result, and those extra calories are not going to do you any favors in the long run.
