If you’re asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight even though I haven’t changed my diet?”, you’re not imagining that something may have changed. Weight is influenced by much more than food alone. Your age, muscle mass, activity level, hormones, thyroid function, sleep, medications, metabolic health, fluid balance, and other medical conditions can all influence body weight and body composition.

One of the key players in your body’s stress response is cortisol, often called the “stress hormone.” Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and plays an essential role in helping regulate metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation, immune function, and your sleep-wake cycle.