Stress, race, and body weight.
OBJECTIVE
Stress has been identified as a significant factor in health and in racial/ethnic health disparities. A potential mediator in these relationships is body weight.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between stress, race, and body weight were examined in an ethnically diverse sample of overweight and obese women with Type 2 diabetes (n = 217) enrolled in a behavioral weight loss program.


METHODS
Stress (Perceived Stress Scale) was assessed at baseline only and body weight (body mass index) was assessed at baseline and 6 months.


RESULTS
Stress was not related to baseline body weight. With every 1 unit lower scored on the baseline stress measure, women lost 0.10 kg +/- .04 more at 6 months (p < .05). When women were divided into tertiles based on baseline stress scores, those in the lowest stress group had significantly greater weight loss (5.2 kg +/- 4.9) compared with those in the highest stress group (3.0 kg +/- 4.0) (p < .05). There was a trend for African Americans to report higher levels of stress (20.7 +/- 8.8) than Whites (18.3 +/- 8.3) (p = .08).


CONCLUSIONS
The association between higher stress and diminished weight loss has implications for enhancing weight loss programs for women with Type 2 diabetes.
Kim
Karen Hye-cheon
KH
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. khk@uams.edu
Bursac
Zoran
Z
DiLillo
Vicki
V
White
Della Brown
DB
West
Delia Smith
DS
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People