Cortisol is an essential hormone released by the body naturally throughout the day. It aids several bodily functions, but its primary purpose is to regulate energy storage and usage. Excessive secretion of cortisol can be harmful to the body, especially in terms of weight gain. The role of cortisol is often misunderstood by consumers who may be confused about cortisol's role in the human body.
The Facts
Cortisol is a hormone in the body derived from a steroid nucleus that helps the body to regulate fuel consumption. In other words, it helps the body to burn carbohydrates, fats and protein for energy. Cortisol is a necessary hormone for these very reasons, but excessive release of cortisol within the cells of the body can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdomen area in the form of visceral fat.
Function
Cortisol is linked closely to stress. When the body encounters a stressor---anything that causes stress---the brain tells the adrenal cortex of the kidneys to release more of the cortisol hormone. Since cortisol regulates how energy is burned and stored within the cells of the body, excessive stress can, in effect, cause mayhem within your body's cells. When too much cortisol is released within the body, more fat tends to get stored in the abdomen area, according to a report published at the University of New Mexico website. This is one reason why it's important to regulate stress in your life. By doing so, you can effectively keep cortisol secretion in your body at normal levels.
Time Frame
Cortisol is naturally released from the cortex of the adrenal glands on top of each kidney throughout the body during the day. The release of cortisol is at its peak in the morning when it is released in an irregular pattern until the early afternoon and evening when secretion levels slowly taper off. Factoring in daily stress can slightly alter this timeline by increasing production of cortisol when encountering a stressful situation.
Effects
Excessive cortisol can lead to obesity by altering appetite patterns. A 2001 laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating proved that there was a link between excessive cortisol levels and appetite. This study showed that the appetite increased for foods high in sugar when the participant was under some form of stress, and eating excessive sugar leads to increases in fatty tissue in the body. Fat cells are moved to the abdomen, increasing levels of visceral fat, under stressful situations when the body is experiencing elevated levels of cortisol. This can lead to obesity.
Misconceptions
Some people may be under the impression that cortisol is a bad thing for the body; this is mostly due in part to fitness commercials toting cortisol controlling pills and related products. The fact is that cortisol is an essential hormone that helps to regulate energy consumption and storage within the cells of the body. So, it's not that cortisol itself leads to weight gain or obesity, although it should be pointed out that doctors from the University of New Mexico---and many other health professionals for that matter---state that there is a strong connection between excessive cortisol and weight gain. Excessive cortisol is most often caused by too much stress.
