Holiday Stress & Weight Gain: Why It’s Not Just About Food

Cortisol’s job is to keep you alive.

But when it stays elevated for weeks at a time, your body shifts into survival mode.

That survival mode can look like:

• Holding onto fat (especially around the belly)

• Increased cravings

• Slower digestion

• Feeling inflamed or “puffy” even if you aren’t overeating