These days, everyone's stressed. Kids, traffic, gas prices, and work add up to a prescription for headaches and grinding teeth. Another side effect of stress is weight gain. How Stress Makes You Fat During ongoing stress, the body's adrenal glands create more of the hormone cortisol than is normally needed. Too much cortisol can make you depressed, which can trigger comfort food binges. Cortisol also stimulates your appetite for fat and sugar and tells your body to store ...