Stress Less to Lose Weight | June, 2010

If you're not losing the weight you would like, your anxiety levels might be to blame.

An article recently published on News.com discussed the link between stress and weight gain, stating that casual stress every now and again is normal, but living in a constant state of anxiety can have a damaging effect on your health, weight and overall well-being. Most people don't realize that there is a major difference between short-term stress and long-term or "chronic stress." In fact, short-term stress can actually help people lose weight - chronic stress on the other hand, such as relationship drama or career conflicts can oftentimes lead to weight gain.

The reason behind this phenomenon is the hormone, cortisol. The "stress hormone" cortisol is released when the body experiences heightened levels of stress. Cortisol has a direct effect on fat deposits and causes increased belly fat. This occurs as a result of stress prompting the adrenal glands to trigger a flight or fight response, releasing cortisol into the bloodstream. Then body is then placed on high alert and prepares itself for danger, storing fat around the abdomen as a source of energy. Even the cravings that are felt for sugar and sweets are a result of the stress hormone cortisol.

When humans evolved to have this flight or fight response, there was a more defined start and end to the stressors. In recent times, stress is a perpetual cycle with very little indications as to when they start or end. This chronic stress level can eventually lead to an overproduction of the cortisol causing a hormonal imbalance.

"Symptoms of cortisol imbalance can vary. My patients most commonly experience fatigue, depression, weight gain, bone and muscle loss, foggy memory, anxiety and irritability", says North Los Angeles bioidentical hormones expert Dr. Travis Deuson. "I advise my patients to engage in stress reduction activities like meditation, to eat a healthy diet, and to do some physical activity", adds Dr. Deuson. Due to the consequences of chronic stress and elevated cortisol, it is essential that these conditions are not left untreated.

High levels of cortisol or unbalanced hormones may not always be treatable through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Chronic symptoms of hormonal imbalance should be evaluated by a hormones expert that offers testing to identify the source of the symptoms. Dr. Travis Deuson is one of BodyLogicMD's highly trained bioidentical hormone doctors who can analyze a patients hormone levels and then use a combination of bioidentical hormones, nutrition, exercises and stress management to bring cortisol levels down.

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