The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Chronic stress and comfort foods: self-medication and abdominal obesity
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.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
Citations
Cites
Physiological functions of glucocorticoids in stress and their relation to pharmacological actions
MUNCK, A., GUYRE, P. M., & HOLBROOK, N. J. (1984) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/edrv-5-1-25 · Cited by 3,083
Drug Addiction, Dysregulation of Reward, and Allostasis
Koob, G. (2001) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(00)00195-0 · Cited by 2,953
(2009) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/c2009-1-03789-7 · Cited by 1,543
Chronic stress and obesity: a new view of “comfort food”
Dallman, M. F., Pecoraro, N., Akana, S. F., la Fleur, S. E., Gomez, F., Houshyar, H., Bell, M. E., Bhatnagar, S., Laugero, K. D., & Manalo, S. (2003) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1934666100 · Cited by 1,369
Self-citationMotivation concepts in behavioral neuroscience
Berridge, K. C. (2004) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.02.004 · Cited by 1,302
Corticosteroid inhibition of acth secretion
KELLER-WOOD, M. E., & DALLMAN, M. F. (1984) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/edrv-5-1-1 · Cited by 1,219
Self-citationEpel, E., Lapidus, R., McEwen, B., & Brownell, K. (2001) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(00)00035-4 · Cited by 1,060 · cited 2×
“, 2002), and women under acute lab stress increase “comfort food” intake (Epel et al., 2001).”
BackgroundStunkard, A. J., Faith, M. S., & Allison, K. C. (2003) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00608-5 · Cited by 841
Di, S., Malcher‐Lopes, R., Halmos, K. C., & Tasker, J. G. (2003) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.23-12-04850.2003 · Cited by 820
Perceived Effects of Stress on Food Choice
Oliver, G. D., & WARDLE, J. (1999) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(98)00322-9 · Cited by 684
Regulation of ACTH Secretion: Variations on a Theme of B
DALLMAN, M. F., AKANA, S. F., CASCIO, C. S., DARLINGTON, D. N., JACOBSON, L., & LEVIN, N. (1987) · Proceedings of the 1986 Laurentian Hormone Conference · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-571143-2.50010-1 · Cited by 655
Self-citationPecoraro, N., Reyes, F., Gomez, F., Bhargava, A., & Dallman, M. F. (2004) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2004-0305 · Cited by 574
Self-citationThe selfish brain: Competition for energy resources
Peters, A., Schweiger, U., Pellerin, L., Hubold, C., Oltmanns, K. M., Conrad, M., Schultes, B., Born, J., & Fehm, H. L. (2004) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2004.03.002 · Cited by 489
Allostasis, amygdala, and anticipatory angst
Schulkin, J., McEwen, B. S., & Gold, P. W. (1994) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/0149-7634(94)90051-5 · Cited by 380
A war on obesity, not the obese.
Friedman, J. M. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1079856 · Cited by 375
Shepard, J. D., Barron, K. W., & Myers, D. A. (2000) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02019-9 · Cited by 321
Moving to Opportunity: Interim Impacts Evaluation
Orr, L. L., Feins, J. D., Jacob, R. T., Beecroft, E. A., Sanbonmatsu, L., Katz, L. F., Liebman, J. B., & Kling, J. R. (2003) · Cited by 305
Goeders, N. E. (2002) · Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics · doi:10.1124/jpet.301.3.785 · Cited by 286
Daily stress, coping, and dietary restraint in binge eating
Freeman, L. M. Y., & Gil, K. M. (2004) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.20012 · Cited by 227
Interaction between Corticosterone and Insulin in Obesity: Regulation of Lard Intake and Fat Stores
la Fleur, S. E., Akana, S. F., Manalo, S. L., & Dallman, M. F. (2004) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2003-1359 · Cited by 154
Self-citationChronic Stress and Energy Balance: Role of the Hypothalamo‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis
Dallman, M. F., & Bhatnagar, S. (2000) · Comprehensive physiology · doi:10.1002/cphy.cp070410 · Cited by 121
Self-citationBell, S., Bhatnagar, Liang, L., Soriano, Nagy, T. R., & Dallman (2000) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2826.2000.00488.x · Cited by 112
Bello, N. T., Sweigart, K. L., Lakoski, J. M., Norgren, R., & Hajnal, A. (2003) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00716.2002 · Cited by 112
Differential stress responsivity in diet-induced obese and resistant rats
Levin, B. E., Richard, D., Michel, C., & Servatius, R. J. (2000) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.2000.279.4.r1357 · Cited by 106
Bhatnagar, Bell, S., Liang, L., Soriano, Nagy, T. R., & Dallman (2000) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2826.2000.00487.x · Cited by 104
Mulholland, G. K., Wieland, D. M., Kilbourn, M. R., Frey, K. A., Sherman, P. S., Carey, J. E., & Kuhl, D. E. (1998) · Synapse · doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2396(199811)30:3 · Cited by 100
Aardal-Eriksson, E., Eriksson, T. E., & Thorell, L. (2001) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01253-7 · Cited by 93
The adrenals and the regulatory nature of running wheel activity
Leshner, A. I. (1971) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(71)90204-6 · Cited by 75
Houshyar, H., Manalo, S. L., & Dallman, M. F. (2004) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1641-04.2004 · Cited by 68
Self-citationBell, M. E., Bhargava, A., Soriano, L., Laugero, K. D., Akana, S. F., & Dallman, M. F. (2002) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2826.2002.00784.x · Cited by 65
Self-citationCorticotropin-Releasing Factor, Corticosteroids, Stress, and Sugar
Dallman, M. F., Viau, V., Bhatnagar, S., Gómez-Oliver, F., Laugero, K. D., & Bell, M. E. (2002) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012532104-4/50011-1 · Cited by 52
Self-citationSchoemaker, C., Smit, F., Bijl, R. V., & Vollebergh, W. (2002) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.10102 · Cited by 41
Chronic corticosterone enhances the rewarding effect of hypothalamic self-stimulation in rats
Barr, A. M., Brotto, L. A., & Phillips, A. G. (2000) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02652-4 · Cited by 41
Brief access to sucrose engages food-entrainable rhythms in food-deprived rats.
Pecoraro, N. C., Gómez-Oliver, F., Laugero, K. D., & Dallman, M. F. (2002) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037//0735-7044.116.5.757 · Cited by 38
Self-citationBrief access to sucrose engages food-entrainable rhythms in food-deprived rats.
Pecoraro, N. C., Gómez-Oliver, F., Laugero, K. D., et al. (2002) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/0735-7044.116.5.757 · Cited by 34
Self-citationCirulli, F., van Oers, H. J. J., de Kloet, E. R., & Levine, S. D. (1994) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0166-4328(94)90070-1 · Cited by 21
Nanni, G., Scheggi, S., Leggio, B., Grappi, S., Masi, F., Rauggi, R., & Montis, M. G. D. (2003) · Journal of Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1002/jnr.10685 · Cited by 16
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Stress, eating and the reward system
Adam, T. C., & Epel, E. S. (2007) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.04.011 · Cited by 1,732
Epigenetics and the biological definition of gene×environment interactions
Meaney, M. J. (2010) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01381.x · Cited by 1,239
How can drug addiction help us understand obesity?
Volkow, N. D., & Wise, R. A. (2005) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1452 · Cited by 1,089
Stress-induced obesity and the emotional nervous system
Dallman, M. F. (2010) · Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2009.10.004 · Cited by 814
Self-citationGariepy, G., Nitka, D., & Schmitz, N. (2010) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.252 · Cited by 753
Metadata
- 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)
- 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
- 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
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
