Ask the nutritionist

Q I've heard about a connection between stress and belly fat. Can the dietary supplement CortiSlim, which claims to control the stress hormone cortisol, flatten my stomach?

A Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Nutrition for Women (Owl Books, 2003), addresses CortiSlim's claims:

CortiSlim's advertising is correct to say chronic exposure to the stress hormone cortisol encourages fat storage--especially around your middle. A study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that women with more belly fat were more prone to stress and secreted more cortisol than women with less ab flab. However, it's unlikely that CortiSlim, which costs $50 for a month's supply, will deflate your spare tire. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently charged its creators with making false or unsubstantiated claims, including that users lose as many as 10 pounds a week and that its effectiveness is demonstrated by more than 15 years of scientific research. According to Pamela Peeke, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and an expert on the stress/abdominal-fat link: "There's no scientific evidence to support CortiSlim's claim that it controls cortisol levels."

In addition to not aiding weight loss, CortiSlim may actually be unsafe. "Even if CortiSlim worked, you never want to chemically regulate cortisol," Peeke says. "You die if it drops too low or become sleepless and anxious when it rises too high." Plus, some ingredients in CortiSlim can be harmful. Bitter orange peel contains synephrine, a stimulant comparable to the banned weight-loss aid ephedra.

To counter stress-induced weight gain, opt for a solution that's cheaper and safer than any pill advertised on infomercials: "Cortisol drops when you boost endorphin levels with a massage, meditation or a bike ride," Peeke says.

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