Lowering cortisol levels will promote weight loss. This simple proverb pops up in television ads every now and then. But, according to researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland the mechanism is not this simple.
Cortisol is the active form of cortisone. From the immune system to the regulation of blood sugar and liver function, it is involved in a variety of different bodily functions,
The scientists show that the hormone isn’t the major factor involved in weight gain and fat distribution. Rather it might actually come into play at a secondary level, according to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation
“There’s no question that this pathway is involved in metabolism, but the mechanism is more complex than just cortisol ‘causing’ obesity,” Dr. Malcolm Low, from the OHSU Center for The Study of Weight Regulation and Associated Disorders, told Reuters Health.
Via: Reuters
