Chronic stress increases vulnerability to diet-related abdominal fat, oxidative stress, and metabolic risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In preclinical studies, the combination of chronic stress and a high sugar/fat diet is a more potent driver of visceral adiposity than diet alone, a process mediated by peripheral neuropeptide Y (NPY).

Methods

In a human model of chronic stress, we investigated whether the synergistic combination of highly palatable foods (HPF; high sugar/fat) and stress was associated with elevated metabolic risk. Using a case-control design, we compared 33 post-menopausal caregivers (the chronic stress group) to 28 age-matched low-stress control women on reported HPF consumption (modified Block Food Frequency Questionnaire), waistline circumference, truncal fat ultrasound, and insulin sensitivity using a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test. A fasting blood draw was assayed for plasm

SUBMITTER: Aschbacher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4104274 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature