Cited by 203Eating Disorders and BehaviorsNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorRegulation of Appetite and Obesity

Low calorie dieting increases cortisol

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Tomiyama, A. Janet, Mann, Traci, Vinas, Danielle, Hunger, Jeffrey M., DeJager, Jill, Taylor, Shelley E.·2010·Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that dieting, or the restriction of caloric intake, is ineffective because it increases chronic psychological stress and cortisol production--two factors that are known to cause weight gain; and to examine the respective roles of the two main behaviors that comprise dieting--monitoring one's caloric intake and restricting one's caloric intake--on psychological and biological stress indicators. METHODS: In a 2 (monitoring vs. not) x 2 (restricting vs. not) fully crossed, controlled experiment, 121 female participants were assigned randomly to one of four dietary interventions for 3 weeks. The monitoring + restricting condition tracked their caloric intake and restricted their caloric intake (1200 kcal/day); the monitoring only condition tracked their caloric intake but ate normally; the restricting only condition was provided 1200 kcal/day of food but did not track their calories, and the control group ate normally and did not track their intake. Before and after the interventions, participants completed measures of perceived stress and 2 days of diurnal saliva sampling to test for cortisol. RESULTS: Restricting calories increased the total output of cortisol, and monitoring calories increased perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS: Dieting may be deleterious to psychological well-being and biological functioning, and changes in clinical recommendations may be in order.

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Authors
Tomiyama, A. J., Mann, T., Vinas, D., Hunger, J. M., DeJager, J., & Taylor, S. E.
Affiliations
University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author
Tomiyama, A. Janet
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Published
2010-05
Volume
72
Issue
4
Pages
357-364
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2145131058
Cited by
203
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
FWCI
11.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (AG 030309, R01AG030309)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL088887, R01HL088887)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH15750-29, R01MH063795, MH63795, T32MH015750)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Keywords
dieting, caloric restriction, cortisol, psychological stress, perceived stress, dietary monitoring, weight loss, diurnal cortisol, female participants, stress hormones
MeSH terms
Energy Intake, Circadian Rhythm, Diet, Reducing, Eating, Energy Metabolism, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Nutritional Requirements, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Wakefulness, Weight Gain, Body Mass Index, Caloric Restriction

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