Stress response and binge eating disorder
Abstract
In clinical practice, obese patients report stress as a primary trigger for binge eating. However, the biological mechanism underlying this relationship is poorly understood. This paper presents, a theoretical overview of how cortisol secretion, a major component of the stress response, could play a role in binge eating, given that exogenous glucocorticoids can lead to obesity by increasing food intake. I will discuss findings from recent studies demonstrating links between laboratory stress, cortisol, food intake and abdominal fat in humans. Cortisol is elevated following laboratory stressors in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and obesity, but has not been widely studied in women with binge eating disorder (BED). Additionally, I will review recent findings demonstrating a greater cortisol response to stress in obese women with BED compared to non-BED.
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The relationship between stress and weight gain appears strongest among individuals who are overweight and those who binge eat.
“this relationship appears to be strongest among individuals who are overweight and those who binge eat”
From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Gluck, 2006
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- Authors
- Gluck, M. E.
- Affiliations
- St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gluck, Marci E.
- ORCID
- Gluck, Marci E.
- Venue
- Appetite
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 26-30
- ISSN
- 0195-6663 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2035527831
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Appetite (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- binge eating disorder, stress response, cortisol, laboratory stress, obesity, dietary intake, abdominal fat, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, glucocorticoids, women
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Energy Intake, Eating, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Stress, Psychological, Bulimia Nervosa
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