"Stress releases a hormone called cortisol," Erica Patel, MD, told POPSUGAR. "Over time, persistently high levels of cortisol seen in stress promote the storage of excess glucose as fat in the abdomen, causing belly fat."
Find healthy ways to relax each day, like taking 10 minutes alone to listen to music or an uplifting podcast, walking in nature, reading your favourite book, or doing this tension-melting yoga sequence. If you're anxious or worried, talk to a friend or therapist or write in a journal. And go ahead and treat yourself to a massage or pedicure when you're really stressed. It's good for your mental health — and your belly.