A review of sex differences in the mechanisms and drivers of overeating

R G Anversa; M Muthmainah; D Sketriene; A Gogos; P Sumithran; R M Brown

doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100941

A review of sex differences in the mechanisms and drivers of overeating

Front Neuroendocrinol. 2021 Oct:63:100941. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100941. Epub 2021 Aug 26.

Authors

R G Anversa¹, M Muthmainah², D Sketriene¹, A Gogos¹, P Sumithran³, R M Brown⁴

Affiliations

¹ Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Mental Health Division, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
² Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Mental Health Division, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia.
³ Department of Medicine (St Vincent's), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Mental Health Division, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: robyn.brown@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 34454955
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100941

Abstract

Disordered eating is often associated with marked psychological and emotional distress, and severe adverse impact on quality of life. Several factors can influence eating behavior and drive food consumption in excess of energy requirements for homeostasis. It is well established that stress and negative affect contribute to the aetiology of eating disorders and weight gain, and there is substantial evidence suggesting sex differences in sub-clinical and clinical types of overeating. This review will examine how negative affect and stress shape eating behaviors, and how the relationship between the physiological, endocrine, and neural responses to stress and eating behaviors differs between men and women. We will examine several drivers of overeating and explore possible mechanisms underlying sex differences in eating behavior.

Keywords: Binge eating; Dietary restraint; Disordered eating; Emotional eating; HPA axis; Inhibitory control; Loss-of-control eating; Overeating; Sex differences; Stress-eating.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Emotions
Feeding Behavior
Female
Humans
Hyperphagia
Male
Quality of Life*
Sex Characteristics*