Published on 03 June 2026
If you are gaining weight around the stomach and cannot shift it then you’re likely to become stressed. But stress itself may be the culprit. When you have too much of the stress hormone cortisol, your body can react by laying down fat around your abdomen and possibly also your face.
Apart from weight gain, symptoms of too much cortisol can include insomnia, depression and even high blood pressure.
What exactly is cortisol?
Cortisol is often called the stress hormone. It is released by your adrenal glands and is produced by many types of stress as your body prepares for ‘fight or flight’.
When cortisol is released in the short term it allows you to deal quickly with a situation.
Cortisol is important because it regulates your body’s stress response, suppresses inflammation, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar, assists good sleep, and helps to control your body’s use of fats, carbohydrates, proteins and metabolism.
The negative impact
While short-term release of cortisol is good; persistent, long-term release can have a detrimental effect on your health.
Long-term production of cortisol can result in weight gain – particularly around your stomach and in your face, energy reduction, sleep disruption, high blood pressure, high blood sugar which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, difficulty in concentrating, weak bones and muscles, and a greater than usual susceptibility to infection.
Abnormally high levels of cortisol experienced over a long time may indicate you have Cushing’s syndrome. It can arise if you have taken high doses of steroid medication.
Alternatively, a small non-cancerous growth in the pituitary gland or adrenal glands can cause too much cortisol to be released. If the problem is caused by a pituitary gland abnormality, it is called Cushing’s disease and if it stems from elsewhere in the body, it is termed Cushing’s syndrome.
Don’t trust social media – go to a doctor
A huge amount of information is circulating on social media about cortisol and its effects.
There is consensus in the medical profession that if you are worried about present or potential weight gain around the middle and in the face then you should book an appointment to see your doctor rather than following suggestions found on social media.
Women can be at greater risk
Everyday stress and hormonal imbalances can mean women are at greater risk of having too much cortisol.
In addition to gaining weight around the middle and in the face, women may bruise more easily, have thinner skin, increased acne, slow healing, irritability, difficulty in concentrating, headaches, excessive tiredness, increased blood pressure, weakness in muscle strength and delayed ovulation.
Change your lifestyle?
In the incessant busyness of today, it can be extremely difficult to take a step back to reduce stress.
However, there can be significant benefits from adopting ways to reducing stress and cortisol release.
Considerations can be:
- Sticking to sleep routines
- Mindfulness
- Breathing exercises
- Altering diet
- Low-impact exercise
- Developing greater positivity in relationships
Fast access to our private GP service
If you’re worried about high cortisol or have been struggling for a while with the physical and mental impacts of stress, you could benefit from speaking to a healthcare professional. At Benenden Hospital, we offer 25-minute face to face appointments with a private GP who can discuss your options.
Arrange an appointment for as early as the same day with our online booking tool, or for a comprehensive range of tests which will provide you with a snapshot of your current health, book one of our female health assessment packages by calling our Private Patient team on 01580 363158.