Cited by 167Regulation of Appetite and ObesityStress Responses and CortisolAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Stress, cortisol, and obesity: A role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity

Hewagalamulage, S.D., Lee, T.K., Clarke, I.J., Henry, B.A.·2016·Domestic Animal Endocrinology

Abstract

There is a strong inter-relationship between activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and energy homeostasis. Patients with abdominal obesity have elevated cortisol levels. Furthermore, stress and glucocorticoids act to control both food intake and energy expenditure. In particular, glucocorticoids are known to increase the consumption of foods enriched in fat and sugar. It is well-known that, in all species, the cortisol response to stress or adrenocorticotropin is highly variable. It has now emerged that cortisol responsiveness is an important determinant in the metabolic sequelae to stress. Sheep that are characterized as high-cortisol responders (HRs) have greater propensity to weight gain and obesity than low-cortisol responders (LRs). This difference in susceptibility to become obese is associated with a distinct metabolic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral phenotype. In women and ewes, HR individuals eat more in response to stress than LR. Furthermore, HR sheep have impaired melanocortin signaling and reduced skeletal muscle thermogenesis. High-cortisol responder sheep exhibit reactive coping strategies, whereas LRs exhibit proactive coping strategies. This complex set of traits leads to increased food intake and reduced energy expenditure in HR and thus, predisposition to obesity. We predict that cortisol responsiveness may be used as a marker to identify individuals who are at risk of weight gain and subsequent obesity.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004

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Authors
Hewagalamulage, S. D., Lee, T. K., Clarke, I. J., & Henry, B. A.
Affiliations
Monash University (AU)
Corresponding author
Henry, B.A.
Venue
Domestic Animal Endocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
56
Pages
S112-S120
ISSN
0739-7240 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2314179020
Cited by
167
References
117
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 6
FWCI
1.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Domestic Animal Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
obesity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress, glucocorticoids, energy homeostasis, dietary intake, energy expenditure, melanocortin signaling, skeletal muscle thermogenesis, coping strategies, sheep, abdominal obesity
MeSH terms
Animals, Eating, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Obesity, Stress, Physiological

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