All of us become stressed at points in our lives, and it is well established that stress can take its toll on physical and mental well-being. New research strengthens the link between long-term stress and increased risk of obesity.

Share on Pinterest Chronic stress may raise the risk of obesity, research suggests.

Researchers found that individuals who had persistently high levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol over long periods of time weighed more, had a higher body mass index (BMI), and a larger waist, compared with those who had low levels of the hormone.

The study – led by Dr. Sarah Jackson from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom – was recently published in the journal Obesity.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting more than a third of adults.

Past research has shown that stress can fuel obesity; stress has been linked to “comfort eating,” whereby individuals turn to foods high in fat and sugar in an attempt to make them feel better.

Studies have also suggested cortisol – a hormone released in response to stress – plays a role in obesity and metabolic syndrome.