title: Stress, cortisol, and other appetite-related hormones: Prospective prediction of 6-month changes in food cravings and weight.
abstract: To examine whether baseline chronic stress, morning cortisol, and other appetite-related hormones (leptin, ghrelin, and insulin) predict future weight gain and food cravings in a naturalistic, longitudinal, 6-month follow-up study.
  
  
  
  A prospective community cohort of 339 adults (age 29.1 ± 9.0 years; BMI = 26.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2; 56.9% female; 70.2% white) completed assessments at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Fasting blood draws were used to assess cortisol and other appetite-related hormone levels at baseline. At baseline and follow-up, body weight was measured, and the Cumulative Adversity Interview and Food Craving Inventory were administered. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates.
  
  
  
  Over the 6-month period, 49.9% of the sample gained weight. Food cravings and chronic stress decreased over 6 months (Ps < 0.05). However, after adjusting for covariates, individuals with higher baseline total ghrelin had significantly higher food cravings at 6 months (P = 0.04). Furthermore, higher cortisol, insulin, and chronic stress were each predictive of greater future weight gain (Ps < 0.05).
  
  
  
  These results suggest that ghrelin plays a role in increased food cravings and reward-driven eating behaviors. Studies are needed that examine the utility of stress reduction methods for normalizing disrupted cortisol responses and preventing future weight gain.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.|University of Pennsylvania Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Ariana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Ania M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jastreboff
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.|Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Marney A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.|Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.|National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Grilo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.|Yale Stress Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Rajita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D006854:Hydrocortisone