Stress may add bite to appetite in women: A laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating behavior
Abstract
To date, there are few known predictors of stress-induced eating. The purpose of this study was to identify whether physiological and psychological variables are related to eating after stress. Specifically, we hypothesized that high cortisol reactivity in response to stress may lead to eating after stress, given the relations between cortisol with both psychological stress and mechanisms affecting hunger. To test this, we exposed fifty-nine healthy pre-menopausal women to both a stress session and a control session on different days. High cortisol reactors consumed more calories on the stress day compared to low reactors, but ate similar amounts on the control day. In terms of taste preferences, high reactors ate significantly more sweet food across days. Increases in negative mood in response to the stressors were also significantly related to greater food consumption. These results suggest that psychophysiological response to stress may influence subsequent eating behavior. Over time, these alterations could impact both weight and health.
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Stress and adversity can increase consumption of fast food, snacks, calorie-dense and highly palatable foods, and stress is associated with increased binge eating.
“stress and adversity can increase consumption of fast food (Steptoe, Lipsey, & Wardle, 1998), snacks (Oliver & Wardle, 1999), calorie-dense and highly-palatable foods (Epel et al., 2001), and stress has been associated with increased binge eating”
From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Epel et al., 2001
Chronic high glucocorticoids and increases in insulin have synergistic effects on increasing highly palatable food intake and abdominal fat deposition.
“Chronic high GCs and increases in insulin have synergistic effects on increasing HP food intake and abdominal fat deposition”
From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Epel et al., 2001
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“Acute and chronic exposure to stress can alter both the quantity and quality of calories consumed, and stress-induced alterations in food intake and energy balance can interact with emotional state (Epel et al., 2001).”
Chao, A. M., Jastreboff, A. M., White, M. A., Grilo, C. M., & Sinha, R. (2017) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.21790 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Impact of stress on metabolism and energy balance
Rabasa, C., & Dickson, S. L. (2016) · Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.01.011 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Neural Correlates of Stress- and Food Cue–Induced Food Craving in Obesity
Jastreboff, A. M., Sinha, R., Lacadie, C., Small, D. M., Sherwin, R. S., & Potenza, M. N. (2013) · Diabetes Care · doi:10.2337/dc12-1112 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Gluck, M. E., Geliebter, A., Hung, J., & Yahav, E. (2004) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000143637.63508.47 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Intense sweeteners, energy intake and the control of body weight.
Bellisle, F., & Drewnowski, A. (2007) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602649 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
A new animal model of binge eating
Hagan, M., Wauford, P. K., Chandler-Laney, P. C., Jarrett, L., Rybak, R. J., & Blackburn, K. (2002) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(02)00809-0 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
Fast glucocorticoid actions on brain: Back to the future
Dallman, M. F. (2005) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2005.08.001 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Born, J. R., Lemmens, S. G. T., Rutters, F., Nieuwenhuizen, A. G., Formisano, E., Goebel, R., & Westerterp‐Plantenga, M. S. (2009) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.221 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Hunte, H. E. R., & Williams, D. R. (2008) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2007.128090 · Cited by 189 · see citing works
Foster, M. T., Warne, J. P., Ginsberg, A. B., Horneman, H. F., Pecoraro, N. C., Akana, S. F., & Dallman, M. F. (2008) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2008-1426 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Lieshout, R. J. V., Taylor, V. H., & Boyle, M. H. (2011) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2010.00850.x · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Life adverse experiences in relation with obesity and binge eating disorder: A systematic review
Palmisano, G. L., Innamorati, M., & Vanderlinden, J. (2016) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions · doi:10.1556/2006.5.2016.018 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
“Obesity, overweight and weight gain was evaluated by means of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC).”
MethodPerceived stress, unhealthy eating behaviors, and severe obesity in low-income women
Richardson, A., Arsenault, J., Cates, S., & Muth, M. (2015) · Nutrix Journal · doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0110-4 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
“Some possible scenarios are that perceived stress can increase greater cortisol reactivity [50] susceptibility to negative moods and selfmedication [51], increased disinhibition [52, 53], and increased food cravings [54].”
BackgroundRacism, Segregation, and Risk of Obesity in the Black Women's Health Study
Cozier, Y. C., Yu, J., Coogan, P. F., Bethea, T. N., Rosenberg, L., & Palmer, J. R. (2014) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/aje/kwu004 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Hewagalamulage, S. D., Lee, T. K., Clarke, I. J., & Henry, B. A. (2016) · Domestic Animal Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Laugero, K. D., Falcón, L. M., & Tucker, K. L. (2010) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2010.11.001 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
“Stress has been shown to promote intake of highly palatable, typically nutrient-poor foods (e.g., ‘‘comfort foods’’) and snacking (see Epel et al., 2001; Pecoraro et al., 2004).”
BackgroundEntringer, S., Buß, C., Swanson, J. M., Cooper, D. M., Wing, D. A., Waffarn, F., & Wadhwa, P. D. (2012) · Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism · doi:10.1155/2012/632548 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
“For example, chronic stress or cortisol administration motivates people to select high-fat food and to overeat [26, 29], and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) infusion in healthy human adults also increases subsequent food intake [28].”
BackgroundObesity: Is it a mental disorder?
Marcus, M. D., & Wildes, J. E. (2009) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.20725 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Reichenberger, J., Kuppens, P., Liedlgruber, M., Wilhelm, F. H., Tiefengrabner, M., Ginzinger, S., & Blechert, J. (2016) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.09.002 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
“determinants of food intake) the present data tentatively support findings of reduced intake under stress (rather than the opposite relationship, reported by Epel et al., 2001; O'Connor et al., 2008). The current findings dovetail with Wallis and Hetherington (2009) as well as Stone and Brownell (1994), who found that…”
ResultHigh-fat diet selectively protects against the effects of chronic social stress in the mouse
Finger, B. C., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2011) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.072 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
“Moreover, it has been well described that the exposure to stress and the experiencing of negative emotions enhances the shift in food choice from healthier to comfort foods (Epel et al., 2001; Cartwright et al., 2003; Freeman and Gil, 2004; Adam and Epel, 2007; Macht, 2008; Konttinen et al., 2010a).”
LaFata, E. M., Potenza, M. N., & Gearhardt, A. N. (2016) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.10.033 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight, waist circumference, and weight status
Jackson, S. E., Beeken, R. J., & Wardle, J. (2014) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.20891 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
The relationship between stress, dietary restraint, and food preferences in women
Habhab, S., Sheldon, J. P., & Loeb, R. C. (2008) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2008.12.006 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Childhood Cumulative Risk and Obesity: The Mediating Role of Self-Regulatory Ability
Evans, G. W., Fuller-Rowell, T. E., & Doan, S. N. (2012) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2010-3647 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Caloric Restriction Experience Reprograms Stress and Orexigenic Pathways and Promotes Binge Eating
Pankevich, D. E., Teegarden, S. L., Hedin, A. D., Jensen, C. L., & Bale, T. L. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1955-10.2010 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
“As stress and the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) are known promoters of increased consumption of calorically dense foods, reprogramming of stress circuitry may be a central mechanism driving repeated dieting, or the “yo-yo” effect, resulting in an increased risk for greater weight gain and later o…”
BackgroundDaubenmier, J. J., Weidner, G., Sumner, M. D., Mendell, N. R., Merritt-Worden, T. A., Studley, J., & Ornish, D. M. (2007) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15324796abm3301_7 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
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 · see citing works
Psychosocial Influences in Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy
Hurley, K. M., Caulfield, L. E., Sacco, L., Costigan, K. A., & DiPietro, J. A. (2005) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2005.03.007 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Stress Hormone-Related Psychopathology: Pathophysiological and Treatment Implications
Wolkowitz, O. M., Epel, E. S., & Reus, V. I. (2001) · The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/15622970109026799 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
“…elevated, unopposed glucocorticoid activity is thus associated with indicators of metabolic dysregulation such as increased eating behaviour (Epel et al 2001b), changes in body composition such as increased visceral (central) adiposity and fat-to-lean mass ratio, peripheral muscle wasting,…”
BackgroundA stress and coping perspective on health behaviors: theoretical and methodological considerations
Park, C. L., & Iacocca, M. O. (2013) · Anxiety Stress & Coping · doi:10.1080/10615806.2013.860969 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Choice of Lard, But Not Total Lard Calories, Damps Adrenocorticotropin Responses to Restraint
la Fleur, S. E., Houshyar, H., Roy, M., & Dallman, M. F. (2005) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2004-1603 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
K. Garber, A., & H. Lustig, R. (2011) · Current Drug Abuse Reviewse · doi:10.2174/1874473711104030146 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Kim, K. H., Sobal, J., & Wethington, E. (2003) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802220 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
- Authors
- Epel, E., Lapidus, R., McEwen, B., & Brownell, K.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Rockefeller University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Epel, Elissa
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 37-49
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2101290962
- Cited by
- 1,060
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 30 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 66 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 53
- FWCI
- 17.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000125, RR00125)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- stress eating, cortisol response, dietary habits, appetite, premenopausal women, taste preference, sweets consumption, negative mood, hunger, psychophysiological stress response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Appetite, Energy Intake, Diet, Reducing, Eating, Educational Status, Female, Food Preferences, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Income, Stress, Physiological, Body Mass Index, Premenopause
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