EATING BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO ACUTE STRESS

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2016 Apr-Jun;120(2):223-7.

Abstract

Obesity is a medical and social problem with a dramatically increasing prevalence. It is important to take action since childhood to prevent and treat obesity and metabolic syndrome. Infantile obesity affects all body systems starting in childhood and continuing to adulthood. Understanding the impact of stressors on weight status may be especially important for preventing obesity. The relationship between stress, eating behavior and obesity is not fully understood. However, there is evidence that stress causes disorders in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, system that regulates both stress and feeding responses. Also, the response is different depending on the type of stressors. Chronic stress, especially when people live in a palatable food environment, induces HPA stimulation, excess glucocorticoids, insulin resistance, which lead to inhibition of lipid mobilization, accumulation of triglyceride and retention of abdominal fat.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System* / physiopathology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / psychology*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Obesity / psychology*
  • Pediatric Obesity / psychology
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System* / physiopathology
  • Prevalence
  • Reward
  • Romania / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*