Stress Hormone, Depression Trigger Obesity in Girls

Depression raises stress hormone levels in adolescent boys and girls but may lead to obesity only in girls. Early treatment of depression could help reduce stress and control obesity -- a major health issue. Cortisol, a hormone, regulates various metabolic functions in the body and is released as a reaction to stress.

Although it is not clear why high cortisol reactions translate into obesity only for girls, scientists believe it may be due to physiological and behavioral differences -- estrogen release and stress eating in girls -- in the way the two genders cope with anxiety. If depression were to be treated earlier, she noted, it could help reduce the level of cortisol, and thereby help reduce obesity. "We know stress is a critical factor in many mental and physical health problems," said researchers.

Data suggests that depression is associated with spikes in cortisol levels for boys and girls after the stress tests, but higher cortisol reactions to stress are associated with obesity only in girls. The team reported its findings in a recent issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. "In these children, it was mainly the peak in cortisol that was related to obesity," researchers explained. "It was how they reacted to an immediate stress."

Bonnie - very important finding that every parent and teen should take note of. Especially in the teen years, paying attention to health and amount stress is often ignored.