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Cited by 656Stress Responses and CortisolRegulation of Appetite and ObesityEating Disorders and Behaviors

Chronic stress and comfort foods: Self-medication and abdominal obesity

Dallman, Mary F., Pecoraro, Norman C., la Fleur, Susanne E.·2005·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
DOI 10.1016/j.bbi.2004.11.004
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Abstract

Central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) networks are recruited by chronic stressors and elevated glucocorticoids (GCs) that initiate recruitment of central CRF activity in the amygdala. Increased central activity of the CRF network stimulates all monoaminergic cell groups, as well as premotor autonomic and other limbic structures resulting in the typical arousal, behavioral changes, autonomic, and neuroendocrine changes that accompany the chronic imposition of a stressor. By contrast, elevated GCs appear, through a variety of means to counteract the effects of central CRF, which they have initiated. Together with insulin, the GCs stimulate drive for and ingestion of "comfort foods" that may directly result in reduction of the negative effects of the chronic stressor in the nucleus Accumbens, through stimulation of the anterior, more pleasure-associated part of this cell group, thus reducing the weight of the stress-stimulated posterior, more defensive part. Furthermore, the shift in caloric intake from chow to preference for "comfort foods," together with elevated GCs and insulin, reorganize energy stores from a peripheral to a central distribution, primarily as abdominal fat. A signal associated with this fat depot appears, as with eating "comfort foods," to reduce the influence of the chronic stress network on behaviors, autonomic, and neuroendocrine outflow.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbi.2004.11.004

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  • Stressful events such as job strain, unemployment, family caregiving, marital conflicts, and chronic adversity including poverty are associated with weight gain and obesity.

    “Stressful events such as job strain, unemployment, family caregiving, marital conflicts and chronic adversity including poverty are associated with weight gain and obesity”

    From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Dallman, Pecoraro, &la Fleur, 2005

  • 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 Dallman et al., 2005

  • The hypothalamus is responsive to glucocorticoids via negative feedback, to insulin, and to hormones like leptin, which inhibits appetite, and ghrelin, which promotes appetite.

    “In addition to the hypothalamus being responsive to GCs via negative feedback, it is also responsive to insulin, secreted from the pancreas and integral to glucose metabolism and energy storage (Dallman et al., 2005; Schwartz, Figlewicz, Baskin, Woods, & Porte, 1992), and to hormones like leptin, which inhibits appetite, and ghrelin, which promotes appetite”

    From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Dallman et al., 2005

  • Chronic stress persistently increases glucocorticoids and promotes abdominal fat, which in the presence of insulin decreases HPA axis activity.

    “Chronic stress persistently increases GCs and promotes abdominal fat, which in the presence of insulin, decreases HPA axis activity”

    From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Dallman et al., 2005

  • Under acute stress conditions, there is significant evidence that food intake decreases rather than increases.

    “under such acute stress conditions, there is significant evidence that there is a decrease, rather than an increase, in food intake”

    From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Dallman et al., 2005

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Authors
Dallman, M. F., Pecoraro, N. C., & la Fleur, S. E.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Dallman, Mary F.
Venue
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2005-07
Volume
19
Issue
4
Pages
275-280
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.bbi.2004.11.004
OpenAlex
W2100183198
Cited by
656
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 41
FWCI
1.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA-16944, R01DA016944)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK28172)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
chronic stress, comfort food, self-medication, abdominal obesity, corticotropin-releasing factor, glucocorticoids, insulin, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, energy homeostasis, energy intake
MeSH terms
Animals, Chronic Disease, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Eating, Food Preferences, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Limbic System, Macaca mulatta, Neural Pathways, Obesity, Self Medication, Stress, Physiological, Rats

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