Obesity

Public health is significantly impacted by the pandemic of obesity, which is growing quickly. In recent years, there has been many research showing that stress, and in particular, an increase in the glucocorticoid stress hormone cortisol, contributes to the development of obesity.

When under stress, people often turn to "comfort eating", eating foods that are high in fat and sugar in an effort to feel better. The tendency to overeat under pressure increases the likelihood that someone may become obese. Additionally, studies have revealed that those with chronically high cortisol levels were overweight, had higher body mass index (BMI), and had larger waistlines than people with low levels of the hormone.