title: Psychosocial stress is positively associated with body mass index gain over 5 years: evidence from the longitudinal AusDiab study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emerging evidence suggests that psychosocial stress may influence weight gain. The relationship between stress and weight change and whether this was influenced by demographic and behavioral factors was explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5,118 participants of AusDiab were prospectively followed from 2000 to 2005. The relationship between stress at baseline and BMI change was assessed using linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those who maintained/gained weight, individuals with high levels of perceived stress at baseline experienced a 0.20 kg/m(2) (95% CI: 0.07-0.33) greater mean change in BMI compared with those with low stress. Additionally, individuals who experienced 2 or ≥3 stressful life events had a 0.13 kg/m(2) (0.00-0.26) and 0.26 kg/m(2) (0.14-0.38) greater increase in BMI compared with people with none. These relationships differed by age, smoking, and baseline BMI. Further, those with multiple sources of stressors were at the greatest risk of weight gain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial stress, including both perceived stress and life events stress, was positively associated with weight gain but not weight loss. These associations varied by age, smoking, obesity, and multiple sources of stressors. Future treatment and interventions for overweight and obese people should consider the psychosocial factors that may influence weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Diabetes and Epidemiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Backholer
authors.forename: Emily D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Matthew Jl
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Dianna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Magliano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D015430:Weight Gain