Stress Hormone Detected After Eating Linked to High Weight in Men

Weight problems can cause a greater susceptibility to many health issues, and they may even produce social stigmas that are unfair and even cruel.

Unfortunately, for men who are overweight or obese, some show signs that they may be secreting greater amounts of stress hormones after eating, which could make them, in turn, more susceptible to disease, according to a new observational study.

As medical researchers continue to seek new approaches to lessen the burden that comes with obesity, some believe identifying differences in hormonal regulation between overweight and lean people, including food intake, could be key.

For many, the hormone cortisol is to blame.

Researchers found that overweight and obese men had a significantly greater increase in salivary cortisol levels after consuming a meal, compared to men who were not overweight. The obese and overweight groups also showed a 51 percent increase in salivary cortisol levels, compared to 5 percent

"This research indicates that when we are carrying excess fat stores, we may also be exposing our bodies to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol every time we have a meal," said study lead author Anne Turner, Ph.D., senior lecturer at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. "If overweight and obese individuals have an increase in cortisol every time they ingest food, they may be at a greater risk of developing stress‐related diseases."

Study participants included 19 normal-weight men with a body mass index of 20-25, and 17 overweight or obese men with a body-mass index of 27-35, all between the ages of 50 and 70 years.

Participants were given foods that included bread, margarine, cheese, processed meat, tomatoes, cucumbers, nuts, fruit bars and fruit juice to prepare their own lunch. Regardless of body mass index, participants consumed meals that were comparable to their daily diets.

Investigators took saliva samples to test cortisol levels in participants every 15 to 30 minutes before participants ate the prepared lunch, and then, again, every 90 minutes after eating. They then used a sensitive test referred to as an enzyme immunoassay that uses antibodies to detect the presence of the cortisol.

"Greater exposure of the body to cortisol may in turn, increase our risk of developing stress-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety," Turner said. "Here is one more reason to shed any excess weight."

The findings were presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.