Some diet pill manufacturers have recently locked their sights on cortisol, the body’s stress-fighting hormone, to win the approval of consumers seeking for some miracle formula to reduce weight. Simply put, what these manufacturers of cortisol weight loss pills want the consumers to believe is that by blocking the body’s cortisol production, weight reduction is assured.
There are indeed scientific findings which indicate that increasing cortisol in the body of human and animal subjects resulted in a boost in appetite, heightened cravings for sugar, and eventually, weight gain. Additionally, it has been found that high cortisol levels may relocate the body’s stored fat to the abdomen, which may lead to obesity.
However, it has not been scientifically established that blocking the body’s production of cortisol will contribute to weight reduction. Neither has it been proven that the stress-induced high cortisol levels in a healthy individual would result in increased weight. Excess fat has been shown to result from high levels of cortisol only in those persons with certain medical conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, or in those demonstrating the side effect of some medications.
The fact is that the body needs cortisol hormone for regulating and mobilizing energy to meet the demand of day-to-day living. This type of hormone likewise enables a body under stress to produce protein for energy production through the conversion of amino acids to glucose.
Cortisol weight loss pills, hence, appear to be not the miracle cure for stressed individuals with weight issues (or for any individual for that matter). There are other tried and tested, not to mention safer, ways to deal with the problem like calorie-control dieting and a strict exercise regimen.