title: Hair cortisol and adiposity in a population-based sample of 2,527 men and women aged 54 to 87 years.
abstract: Chronic cortisol exposure is hypothesized to contribute to obesity. This study examined associations between hair cortisol concentrations, a novel indicator of long-term cortisol exposure, and adiposity in a large population-based sample.
  
  
  
  Data were from 2,527 men and women aged 54 and older (98% white British) participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Hair cortisol concentrations were determined from the scalp-nearest 2 cm hair segment, and height, weight, and waist circumference were objectively measured. Covariates included age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking status, diabetes, and arthritis.
  
  
  
  In cross-sectional analyses, hair cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with weight (r = 0.102, P < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.101, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (r = 0.082, P = 0.001) and were significantly elevated in participants with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) (F = 6.58, P = 0.001) and raised waist circumference (≥102 cm in men, ≥88 cm in women) (F = 4.87, P = 0.027). Hair cortisol levels were also positively associated with the persistence of obesity (F = 12.70, P < 0.001), evaluated in retrospect over 4 years.
  
  
  
  Chronic exposure to elevated cortisol concentrations, assessed in hair, is associated with markers of adiposity and with the persistence of obesity over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirschbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steptoe
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone