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EATING BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO ACUTE STRESS

Veronica Mocanu, Amalia Bontea, Dana-teodora Anton-Păduraru

    Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii De Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi
    |August 4, 2016
    PubMed

    Insights

    Childhood obesity is rising, and stress impacts weight gain. Chronic stress disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to fat accumulation, especially abdominal fat.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Endocrinology
    • Metabolic Syndrome Research
    • Obesity Studies

    Background:

    • Obesity and metabolic syndrome prevalence are increasing globally.
    • Infantile obesity has systemic effects from childhood into adulthood.
    • Early intervention is crucial for preventing and treating childhood obesity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the connection between stress, eating habits, and obesity.
    • To understand how stressors influence weight status in children.
    • To investigate the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in stress-induced obesity.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing evidence on stress, eating behavior, and obesity.
    • Analysis of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function under stress.
    • Examination of the impact of chronic stress in palatable food environments.

    Main Results:

    • Stress can disrupt the HPA axis, affecting feeding responses.
    • Chronic stress, particularly in obesogenic environments, leads to HPA axis stimulation.
    • This stimulation results in excess glucocorticoids, insulin resistance, and impaired lipid mobilization.

    Conclusions:

    • Stress significantly contributes to obesity development and progression.
    • The HPA axis is a key mediator in the stress-obesity relationship.
    • Targeting stress management may be vital for pediatric obesity prevention and treatment.

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