Story highlights A study found the highest levels of cortisol in obese individuals under high stressCortisol is released when the body is stressed; it also regulates metabolism(CNN) Could constant stress be making you fat? To find out, English researchers compared stress levels and body weight of more than 2,500 men and women over age 54 who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. , published Thursday in looked at the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in locks of hair gathered from participants. The studypublished Thursday in the journal Obesity looked at the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in locks of hair gathered from participants. Cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands that is released into the bloodstream in times of stress.

Source: CNN February 23, 2017 09:31 UTC