Scientists debunked another myth related to weight gain

Increased levels of cortisol - the so-called "stress hormone" - by itself does not lead to fat accumulation in the face and waist area in healthy people.

This was reported by Craig Doig, Associate Professor of Metabolic Health at the University of Nottingham, in an interview with The Conversation.

The scientist noted that cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and is involved in regulating daily rhythms, behavior, blood pressure, and metabolism. Although stress does indeed increase the level of this hormone, this does not mean that everyday worries automatically affect one's figure.

According to Doig, expressions such as "cortisol face" or "cortisol belly" have no scientific basis when it comes to a healthy person. Research shows that increased fat deposits in these areas do occur with high cortisol levels - but this is characteristic of a rare condition called Cushing's syndrome, in which the adrenal glands work excessively.

"The amount of cortisol that the body produces during normal stress is incomparable to what happens with Cushing's disease," the expert emphasized.

He also added that fat distribution in the body depends on many factors: genetics, nutrition, sleep quality, physical activity, and hormonal balance. Therefore, considering cortisol as the sole cause of appearance changes is erroneous.