Previous research has suggested that children who are exposed to chronic stress are at greater risk for childhood obesity, however little research has examined the mechanism of this association. This study aimed to investigate the association between family and household stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and children's BMIz, and whether children's hair cortisol concentration (HCC) mediates this association.

This study used baseline data from 228 children 2-6 years from the Family Stress Study, a prospective cohort study of families with children 2-6 years. Parents responded to an online survey which assessed family and household stressors including family functioning, home chaos, financial insecurity, food insecurity, parental depression, parenting stress, stressful life events, and COVID-19 stressors. A total family chronic stress index score was calculated from parents' responses on these measures. Hair samples were collected from children to assess their HCC. The Hayes PROCESS mediation macro was used to assess the total, direct, and indirect effect of the family chronic stress index on child BMIz, adjusting for household income and child ethnicity/race.

We found that the family chronic stress index was associated with higher child BMIz (b = 0.815, 95% CI = 0.181-1.449), but this association was not mediated by children's HCC (b = 0.004, CI = -0.042-0.076).

Future research should continue to investigate hair cortisol as a measure of chronic stress among children younger than 6 years and explore other mechanisms of how chronic stress is associated with children's weight outcomes, such as through parenting practices that influence children's eating behaviour or physical activity, or children's weight-related behaviours.

Subjective well-being is linked to healthy aging as it decreases disease-related risk factors. Frailty is associated with biological factors such as inflammatory markers. However, the relationship between life satisfaction, a type of subjective well-being, and the onset of frailty is not sufficiently clear. This study investigated the relationship between life satisfaction and the onset of frailty among Japanese adults aged 60 years and older.

A prospective cohort study was conducted.

The sample comprised 1760 individuals aged ≥60 years living in Japan.

A baseline assessment was followed by a further assessment 2.5 years later. The main outcome, frailty, was defined as a score of 7 or more on the Kihon checklist. The independent variable was score on a life satisfaction scale. A logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between the onset of frailty and quartiles on the life satisfaction scale, and odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated.

A total of 216 participants (12.2 %) developed frailty during the follow-up. Score on the life satisfaction scale at baseline for all participants was 39.7 ± 5.0. The odds ratio (95 % confidence intervals) for life satisfaction scale quartiles for the onset of frailty was 0.50 (0.33-0.75) for the Q2 group, 0.45 (0.28-0.72) for the Q3 group, and 0.43 (0.26-0.67) for the Q4 group, compared with the Q1 (lowest life satisfaction score) group.

The results suggest that high life satisfaction is a protective factor against frailty. Increasing the life satisfaction of Japanese adults aged 60 years and older may contribute to the prevention of frailty.

This report proposes the multisystem interconnected lifestyle (MIL) framework to describe how lifestyle behaviors (i.e., sleep, stress, activity, diet) work together to create profiles of young children's obesogenic risk. This report argues that considering lifestyle behaviors collectively within and across days more accurately captures the complexity of obesity risk. The MIL framework builds on social ecological models to situate lifestyle behavior profiles within the social connections and ecological contexts of children's lives. The MIL framework potentiates the next generation of obesity research, reflecting a holistic understanding of lifestyle behavior engagement that could inform more effective and targeted education and intervention approaches.

We examined the associations between childhood maltreatment and the risk of impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) in young adults aged 18-35. Participants (N = 8506) from the Lifelines Cohort Study without IGM or diabetes at baseline (2007-2013) were included. Childhood maltreatment was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and incident IGM/T2D was assessed by haemoglobin A1c levels (≥5.7%) in 2014-2017. There were 223 (2.6%) cases of IGM/T2D during the follow-up period. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health/lifestyle covariates and follow-up time, only the CTQ Sexual Abuse subscale was significantly associated with IGM/T2D (RR = 1.05 [95% CI = 1.01, 1.10]). The association remained when additionally accounting for depressive and anxiety symptoms (RR = 1.05 [95% CI = 1.00, 1.09]). Childhood sexual abuse was associated with an increased risk of IGM/T2D in young adults, highlighting the long-term metabolic consequences of childhood maltreatment.

This review aimed to explore the association between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and the risk of depression. Databases (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched up to 20 June 2024. Observational studies were included if they compared groups with MHO, metabolically unhealthy nonobesity, and metabolically unhealthy obesity to groups with metabolically healthy nonobesity for the risk of depression. The random-effect model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs). Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were conducted according to age, study design, definition of MHO, BMI cut-off value, depression assessment method, geographic location, ethnicity, development status, and gender to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Three cohorts and 9 cross-sectional studies (N = 1,277,267 participants) were included in this review. Individuals with MHO (OR 1.08 [95% CI 1.04, 1.12], I² = 88.3%), metabolically unhealthy nonobesity (OR 1.15 [95% CI 1.04, 1.28], I² = 99.6%), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (OR 1.30 [95% CI 1.12, 1.51], I² = 99.8%) had an increased risk of depression than individuals with metabolically healthy nonobesity. The association between MHO and risk of depression was stronger in women (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20) and populations from North America (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01-1.58) and Europe (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.07-1.41). Inconsistencies in MHO definitions and BMI cutoff values across studies were important sources of heterogeneity (subgroup analysis: PQ = 29.87, p = 0.001; meta-regression: p = 0.015, R² = 100%). MHO was associated with an increased risk of depression, particularly among women and populations from North America and Europe. These high-risk groups need personalized interventions. Standardizing definition for MHO could enhance comparability across studies. Future prospective cohort studies are needed to validate our findings by including populations from developing nations and employing rigorous definitions.

The global incidence and prevalence of cardiometabolic disorders have risen significantly in recent years. Although lifestyle choices in adulthood play a crucial role in the development of these conditions, it is well established that events occurring early in life can have an important effect. Recent research on cardiometabolic diseases has highlighted the influence of sexual dimorphism on risk factors, underlying mechanisms, and response to therapies. In this narrative review, we summarize the current understanding of sexual dimorphism in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in the general population and within the framework of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept. We explore key risk factors and mechanisms, including the influence of genetic and epigenetic factors, placental and embryonic development, maternal nutrition, sex hormones, energy metabolism, microbiota, oxidative stress, cell death, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, circadian rhythm, and lifestyle factors. Finally, we discuss some of the main therapeutic approaches, responses to which may be influenced by sexual dimorphism, such as antihypertensive and cardiovascular treatments, oxidative stress management, nutrition, cell therapies, and hormone replacement therapy.

The relationship between obesity and mental health has attracted attention. However, large sample studies on the relationship between visceral fat obesity and depression are lacking. This study aimed to explore the relationship between visceral fat obesity and depression by using visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP). Additionally, it sought to explore the potential mediating role of sleep duration in these associations.

The data used in the current cross-sectional investigation are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2005 to 2020, including 19,659 participants. Depression was measured using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Weighted multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of VAI and LAP with depression. The potential non-linear relationship was determined using smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis. Additionally, mediation analysis was performed to investigate the potential mediating role of sleep duration. The stability of the relationship was assessed through sensitivity analysis.

VAI and LAP were closely related to depression. In the fully adjusted model, VAI and LAP in the highest quartile increased the association of depression by 52% (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.92, P < 0.001) and 51% (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.19-1.91, P < 0.001), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile. Specific saturation effects for VAI, LAP, and depression were identified by smoothed curve fitting, with inflection points of 3.81 and 98.55, respectively. Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that 5.1% and 2.8% of the associations between VAI and LAP with depression were mediated through sleep duration. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed interactions between hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the associations of VAI, and depression (P < 0.05).

VAI and LAP are associated with depression in US adults. The associations between VAI and LAP with depression are non-linear, which may be mediated through sleep duration. The study highlights the potential of VAI and LAP as valuable tools for the prevention and management of depression.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether Gliatamin (choline alphoscerate), an acetylcholine precursor originally used to treat dementia, improves depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a 6-month double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial involving 49 participants with type 2 diabetes, older than 50 years, and with mild depressive symptoms; 33 and 16 participants received choline alphoscerate (800 mg/day) and a placebo, respectively. Results: At 6 months, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was significantly decreased in both the choline alphoscerate (15.9 ± 6.5 to 12.6 ± 5.8, p = 0.001) and placebo (15.4 ± 4.7 to 10.2 ± 3.9, p = 0.004) groups compared with baseline, without inter-group difference (p = 0.297). Meanwhile, the choline alphoscerate group showed favorable results in insulin resistance-related parameters at 6 months, including the waist circumference (WC) and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio (p for inter-group difference vs. placebo = 0.009 and 0.092). Even after adjusting for multiple confounding factors, choline alphoscerate use was associated with an increased odds for reduction in WC (OR 18.28 [95% CI 2.27-461.35]) and a decreased odds for a high LDL/HDL ratio at 6 months (OR 0.16 [95% CI 0.03-0.76]). Conclusions: Choline alphoscerate did not show superiority over the placebo in terms of the alleviation of depressive symptoms, despite significant pre-post changes observed within the choline alphoscerate group. Nevertheless, given its positive potential for insulin resistance, the effects of choline alphoscerate on depressive mood in relation to insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes require further validation.

We assess the associations between personality traits and co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI from adolescence to early adulthood. We employed a nationally representative cohort in China from 2010 to 2020 year. We included adolescents aged 10-19 years without depressive symptoms and unhealthy weight status (obesity, overweight, or thinness) at baseline and excluded those without any measurement of depressive symptoms or BMI at follow-ups. We assessed baseline personality traits in 7 dimensions of conscientiousness, openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, self-esteem, and responsibility. We also assessed the combined effects of these 7 dimensions of personality traits by generating individual-level personality trait risk scores based on the weighted sum of all these 7 dimensions of personality traits. We measured the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI using both a single measurement of depressive symptoms and BMI at the last follow-up and repeated measurements of them over 10 years. We used the multinomial logistic regression models to examine the exposure-outcome associations. At baseline, we included 1778 individuals (mean age: 14.4 year; female: 853 (48.0%)). At follow-ups, we observed increased risk of co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI per 1-SD increase in neuroticism score (1.95-2.38 odds ratio) or 1-SD decrease in self-esteem and conscientiousness (0.63-0.80 odds ratio; all P values < 0.05); we observed no evidence of associations between openness, agreeableness, extraversion, or responsibility and the risk of co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI (all P values > 0.05). For the combined effects of the 7 dimensions of personality traits, we found an elevated risk of co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI per 1-SD increase in the personality trait risk scores (OR (95% CI), single measurement at the last follow-up: 2.01, 1.66 to 2.43; trajectory classification using the repeated measurements 2.30, 1.55 to 3.42; average level using the repeated measurements: 2.27, 1.93 to 2.67). In this national cohort in China, personality traits were found to be associated with the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and high BMI from adolescence to early adulthood. These findings highlight the importance of stratifying individuals based on their personality traits and providing targeted interventions for those at risk of comorbid depression and obesity.

Sleep is an essential factor for health and wellbeing in people across the age spectrum; yet many adolescents do not meet the recommended 8-10 h of nightly sleep. Unfortunately, habitually insufficient sleep, along with the metabolic changes of puberty, puts adolescents at increased risk for a host of adverse health outcomes such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, individuals from historically minoritized racial and ethnic groups (e.g. Hispanic/Latinx, African American/Black) are more likely to experience shorter sleep duration compared to adolescents of White/European origin, placing them at even greater risk for disparities in T2D risk.

We conducted a literature review on the role of race and ethnicity in adolescent sleep health and its relation to cardiometabolic outcomes, specifically T2D. We use the minority stress model and the stress and coping theory as guiding theoretical frameworks to examine individual and societal level factors that may contribute to sleep health disparities and their downstream effects on T2D risk.

This review highlights that the unique race-related stressors adolescents from minoritized groups face may play a role in the sleep and T2D connection on a biological, psychological, and social level. However, although there has been advancement in the current research on adolescent racial and ethnic sleep health disparities in relation to T2D, mechanisms underlying these disparities in sleep health need further investigation. Addressing these gaps is crucial for identifying and mitigating sleep health disparities and T2D among racial and ethnic minority youth.

We conclude with a discussion of the implications and future research directions of racial and ethnic disparities in sleep health and T2D prevention research. A comprehensive understanding of adolescent sleep health disparities has potential to better inform preventative and educational programs, interventions, and policies that promote sleep health equity and improve cardiometabolic outcomes like T2D.

Population-based studies on the relationship between social isolation and obesity, which also include younger adults, are still lacking in Germany. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of social isolation in people with and without obesity. In addition, socially isolated people with and without obesity are examined with regard to socio-demographic and socio-economic factors as well as with regard to depressive symptoms.

This study was based on baseline data from the LIFE Adult Study (18-79 years) from the 2011-2014 study period. The sample comprised n = 8350 participants. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics and socio-economic status (SES), data on social isolation (LSNS-6), depression (ADS), and body mass index (BMI) were collected. Evaluations were carried out using inferential statistical analyses.

Overall, 13.1% of the total sample were affected by social isolation. Participants with obesity (20.4%) had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher prevalence compared to those without obesity (11.4%). A better social integration was significantly associated with younger age (p < 0.001), female sex (p < 0.001), being married (and cohabiting) (p < 0.001), higher socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), and lower depressive symptoms (p < 0.001).

A higher BMI was not associated per se with poorer social integration. However, the present study showed that socially isolated people with obesity represent a special risk group for impaired mental health and had twice the prevalence of social isolation compared to those without obesity.

Short sleep duration has been associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity in high-income countries, but data from low- and middle-income countries are scarce. Independently, short sleep and food insecurity may increase the risk of overweight/obesity, but it is unknown whether they concurrently affect it.

We included 3350 adolescents aged 10-14 from the 2012 and 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. Short sleep was categorized as less than 9 hours for ages 10-12 and less than 8 hours for ages 13-14. Overweight/obesity was assessed via anthropometry. Modified Poisson regression models assessed prevalence ratios between short sleep and overweight, examining effect modification by food security status.

86% met sleep duration recommendations. Short sleep was associated with an increased prevalence of overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.31). Multiplicative interaction was found between low and very low food security status and short sleep: adolescents in low food secure households with short sleep had 1.38 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.75) times the prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to adequate sleepers. Very low food secure households had 1.16 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.31) times the prevalence compared to adequate sleepers. This association was not significant in fully or marginally food secure households.

Short sleep is associated with an increased obesity risk among Mexican adolescents 10-14years, particularly in the context of low and very low food security. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both sleep hygiene and food security in strategies to reduce obesity risk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors tend to cluster and interact multiplicatively and have been incorporated into risk equations such as the Framingham risk score, which can reasonably predict CVD over short- and long-term periods. Beyond risk factor levels at a single time point, recent evidence demonstrated that risk trajectories are differentially related to CVD risk. However, factors associated with suboptimal control or unstable CVD risk trajectories are not yet established.

This study aims to examine factors associated with CVD risk trajectories in a semirural, multiethnic community-dwelling population.

Data on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, mental health, and cardiovascular factors were measured at baseline (2013) and during follow-up (2018) of the South East Asia Community Observatory cohort. The 10-year CVD risk change transition was computed. The trajectory patterns identified were improved; remained unchanged in low, moderate, or high CVD risk clusters; and worsened CVD risk trajectories. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the association between risk factors and changes in Framingham risk score and predicted CVD risk trajectory patterns with adjustments for concurrent risk factors.

Of the 6599 multiethnic community-dwelling individuals (n=3954, 59.92% female participants and n=2645, 40.08% male participants; mean age 55.3, SD 10.6 years), CVD risk increased over time in 33.37% (n=2202) of the sample population, while 24.38% (n=1609 remained in the high-risk trajectory pattern, which was reflected by the increased prevalence of all major CVD risk factors over the 5-year follow-up. Meanwhile, sex-specific prevalence data indicate that 21.44% (n=567) of male and 41.35% (n=1635) of female participants experienced an increase in CVD risk. However, a stark sex difference was observed in those remaining in the high CVD risk cluster, with 45.1% (n=1193) male participants and 10.52% (n=416) female participants. Regarding specific CVD risk factors, male participants exhibited a higher percentage increase in the prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive medication use, smoking, and obesity, while female participants showed a higher prevalence of diabetes. Further regression analyses identified that Malay compared to Chinese (P<.001) and Indian (P=.04) ethnicity, nonmarried status (P<.001), full-time employment (P<.001), and depressive symptoms (P=.04) were all significantly associated with increased CVD risk scores. In addition, lower educational levels and frequently having meals from outside were significantly associated to higher odds of both worsening and remaining in high CVD risk trajectories.

Sociodemographics and mental health were found to be differently associated with CVD risk trajectories, warranting future research to disentangle the role of psychosocial disparities in CVD. Our findings carry public health implications, suggesting that the rise in major risk factors along with psychosocial disparities could potentially elevate CVD risk among individuals in underserved settings. More prevention efforts that continuously monitor CVD risk and consider changes in risk factors among vulnerable populations should be emphasized.

Increasing evidences suggest that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, whether there were causal associations between them remained vague. A causal association between neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD was investigated in this study.

We assessed the published genome-wide association study summary statistics for NAFLD, seven mental disorder-related diseases and six central nervous system dysfunction-related diseases. The causal relationships were first assessed using two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR). Then, sensitivity analyses were performed, followed by a reverse MR analysis to determine whether reverse causality is possible. Finally, we performed replication analyses and combined the findings from the above studies.

Our meta-analysis results showed NAFLD significantly increased the risk of anxiety disorders (OR = 1.016, 95% CI = 1.010-1.021, P value < 0.0001). In addition, major depressive disorder was the potential risk factor for NAFLD (OR = 1.233, 95% CI = 1.063-1.430, P value = 0.006). Multivariable MR analysis showed that the causal effect of major depressive disorder on NAFLD remained significant after considering body mass index, but the association disappeared after adjusting for the effect of waist circumference. Furthermore, other neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD were not found to be causally related.

These results implied causal relationships of NAFLD with anxiety disorders and Major Depressive Disorder. This study highlighted the need to recognize and understand the connection between neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD to prevent the development of related diseases.

What is the potential transmission of metabolic phenotype from IVF offspring to the subsequent generation?

An IVF mouse model was established. The F1 generation mice were produced though IVF or natural mating and the F2 generation was obtained through the mating of F1 generation males with normal females. Their metabolic phenotype, including systemic and hepatic glucolipid metabolism, was examined.

It was found that IVF F1 males exhibited metabolic changes. Compared with the control group, the IVF F1 generation showed increased body weight, elevated fasting glucose and insulin, and increased serum triglyceride concentrations. IVF F1 mice also showed an increased expression of hepatic lipogenesis and autophagy genes. Moreover, IVF F1 males transmitted some metabolic changes to their own male progeny (IVF F2) in the absence of a dietary challenge. IVF F2 mice had increased peri-epididymal and subcutaneous fat and decreased insulin sensitivity. Under the 'second hit' of a high-fat diet, IVF F2 mice further showed increased hepatic lipid deposition with unaltered autophagy levels.

This research demonstrates the impact of IVF on hepatic glucose-lipid metabolism in two successive generations of offspring, highlighting the need for additional investigation. Enhanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying the transmission of multigenerational effects induced by IVF could potentially lead to the advancement of therapeutic interventions for individuals experiencing infertility.

Though research indicates that certain aspects of adverse neighborhood conditions may influence weight development in childhood and adolescence, it is unknown if the Child Opportunity Index (COI), a composite measure of 29 indicators of neighborhood conditions, is associated with weight outcomes in adolescence. We hypothesized that lower COI would be associated with higher overweight and obesity in cross-sectional and longitudinal modeling in a national sample of 9 year olds and 10 year olds and that this association would be different by sex.

Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (n = 11,857), we examined the cross-sectional association between COI quintile and overweight and obesity in 9 year olds and 10 year olds. Additionally, we used hazard ratios to examine incident overweight and obesity across three waves of data collection.

Due to the interaction between sex and COI (p < .05), we present sex-specific models. There was a stepwise bivariate association, in which higher COI was associated with lower obesity prevalence. This pattern held in multilevel models, with a stronger association in females. In models adjusted for individual and household characteristics, female adolescents in the lowest quintile COI neighborhoods had 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.32, 2.48) times the odds of obesity compared to those in the highest quintile. In longitudinal models, the COI was associated with incident obesity in females only: adjusted hazard ratio = 4.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.50, 12.13) for lowest compared to highest COI.

Neighborhood opportunity is associated with risk of obesity in pre-adolescence into mid-adolescence. Females may be particularly influenced by neighborhood conditions.

Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) is a new type of obesity index. The relationship between LAP and depression is unclear, and this cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between LAP and depression using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005-2018.

In our study, logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio between depression and LAP, and subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed to verify the robustness of the results.

The analysis included 13,240 participants aged 20 years or older. After adjusting for multiple variables, LAP was positively associated with depression, OR 1. 50 (95% CI, 1. 05-2. 12). In subgroup analysis, LAP was significantly positively, associated with depression among male (2. 52, OR; 95% CI, 1. 39,4. 57), non-Hispanic Black (2. 55, OR; 95% CI, 1. 49,4. 36), those without diabetes (1. 67, OR; 95% CI, (1. 06,2. 61) or in the overweight (2. 09, OR; 95% CI, (1. 23,3. 54) subgroups. After inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), the OR for the highest versus lowest quartile was 1. 55 (95% CI: 1. 24 - 1. 95).

There are positive results between LAP and depression after adjusting for multiple potential variables, and prospective studies are needed to verify the results.

Growing evidence implicates systemic inflammation in the loss of structural brain integrity in natural ageing and disorder development. Chronic stress and glucocorticoid exposure can potentiate inflammatory processes and may also be linked to neuronal atrophy, particularly in the hippocampus and the human neocortex. To improve understanding of emerging maladaptive interactions between stress and inflammation, this study examined evidence for glucocorticoid- and inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration in healthy mid-aged adults. N = 169 healthy adults (mean age = 39.4, 64.5% female) were sampled from the general population in the context of the ReSource Project. Stress, inflammation and neuronal atrophy were quantified using physiological indices of chronic stress (hair cortisol (HCC) and cortisone (HEC) concentration), systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)), the systemic inflammation index (SII), hippocampal volume (HCV) and cortical thickness (CT) in regions of interest. Structural equation models were used to examine evidence for pathways from stress and inflammation to neuronal atrophy. Model fit indices indicated good representation of stress, inflammation, and neurological data through the constructed models (CT model: robust RMSEA = 0.041, robust χ2 = 910.90; HCV model: robust RMSEA <0.001, robust χ2 = 40.95). Among inflammatory indices, only the SII was positively associated with hair cortisol as one indicator of chronic stress (β = 0.18, p < 0.05). Direct and indirect pathways from chronic stress and systemic inflammation to cortical thickness or hippocampal volume were non-significant. In exploratory analysis, the SII was inversely related to mean cortical thickness. Our results emphasize the importance of considering the multidimensionality of systemic inflammation and chronic stress, with various indicators that may represent different aspects of the systemic reaction. We conclude that inflammation and glucocorticoid-mediated neurodegeneration indicated by IL-6 and hs-CRP and HCC and HEC may only emerge during advanced ageing and disorder processes, still the SII could be a promising candidate for detecting associations between inflammation and neurodegeneration in younger and healthy samples. Future work should examine these pathways in prospective longitudinal designs, for which the present investigation serves as a baseline.

The current study sought to examine the drivers of weight change in first-year university students. The study examined the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between stress, eating and weight change. Specifically, we expected that students low in self-compassion would respond to stress with unhealthy eating resulting in weight gain. We expected students high in self-compassion to be buffered from the negative effects of stress (moderated mediation model).

First-year university students in New Zealand (N = 136) completed measures of healthy and unhealthy food intake and BMI at the beginning and end of the academic year. Self-compassion was measured at baseline only, and perceived stress was averaged over four time points across the year.

Students gained a significant 1.45 kg (SD 3.67 kg) of body weight. Self-compassion moderated the relationship between stress and changes in: (a) unhealthy (but not healthy) food intake, and (b) body weight. For those with low self-compassion, perceived stress was significantly related to an increase in BMI and, unexpectedly, to a decrease in unhealthy food intake. Changes in food intake did not explain changes in BMI.

Wellbeing interventions for university students to reduce negative effects of stress should incorporate concurrent training in self-compassion.

Chronic stress is an important risk factor in the development of obesity. While research suggests chronic stress is linked to excess weight gain in children, the biological or behavioral mechanisms are poorly understood.

The objectives of the Family Stress Study are to examine behavioral and biological pathways through which chronic stress exposure (including stress from COVID-19) may be associated with adiposity in young children, and to determine if factors such as child sex, caregiver-child relationship quality, caregiver education, and caregiver self-regulation moderate the association between chronic stress and child adiposity.

The Family Stress Study is a prospective cohort study of families recruited from 2 Canadian sites: the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Participants will be observed for 2 years and were eligible to participate if they had at least one child (aged 2-6 years) and no plans to move from the area within the next 3 years. Study questionnaires and measures were completed remotely at baseline and will be assessed using the same methods at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. At each time point, caregivers measure and report their child's height, weight, and waist circumference, collect a hair sample for cortisol analysis, and fit their child with an activity monitor to assess the child's physical activity and sleep. Caregivers also complete a web-based health and behaviors survey with questions about family demographics, family stress, their own weight-related behaviors, and their child's mental health, as well as a 1-day dietary assessment for their child.

Enrollment for this study was completed in December 2021. The final second-year follow-up was completed in April 2024. This study's sample includes 359 families (359 children, 359 female caregivers, and 179 male caregivers). The children's mean (SD) age is 3.9 years (1.2 years) and 51% (n=182) are female. Approximately 74% (n=263) of children and 80% (n=431) of caregivers identify as White. Approximately 34% (n=184) of caregivers have a college diploma or less and nearly 93% (n=499) are married or cohabiting with a partner. Nearly half (n=172, 47%) of the families have an annual household income ≥CAD $100,000 (an average exchange rate of 1 CAD=0.737626 USD applies). Data cleaning and analysis are ongoing as of manuscript publication.

Despite public health restrictions from COVID-19, the Family Stress Study was successful in recruiting and using remote data collection to successfully engage families in this study. The results from this study will help identify the direction and relative contributions of the biological and behavioral pathways linking chronic stress and adiposity. These findings will aid in the development of effective interventions designed to modify these pathways and reduce obesity risk in children.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05534711; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05534711.

DERR1-10.2196/48549.

Food insecurity is highly prevalent and linked to poorer diet and worse metabolic outcomes. Food insecurity can be stressful, and could elicit chronic psychological and physiological stress. In this study, we tested whether stress could be used to identify those at highest risk for worse diet and metabolic measures from food insecurity. Specifically, we hypothesized that cortisol (a physiological marker of stress) and perceived psychological stress would amplify the link between food insecurity and hyperpalatable food intake as well as metabolic measures. In a sample of 624 Black and White women aged 36-43 who participated in the NHLBI Growth and Health Study's midlife assessment, we assessed associations between food insecurity with hyperpalatable food intake (high fat + high sodium foods; high fat + high sugar foods; and high carbohydrate + high sodium foods), and metabolic measures (fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and waist circumference). We found that food insecurity was associated with higher levels of perceived stress (R2 = 0.09), and greater intake of high fat + high sugar (hyperpalatable) foods (R2 = 0.03). In those with higher cumulative cortisol (as indexed by hair cortisol), food insecurity was associated with higher levels of fasting glucose. Neither cortisol nor perceived stress moderated any other relationships, and neither variable functioned as a mediator in sensitivity analyses. Given these largely null findings, further research is needed to understand the role stress plays in the chronic health burdens of food insecurity.

There is a substantial and progressive association between chronic pain (CP) and living with overweight or obesity. The relationship between obesity and CP is intricate and complex, with obesity being associated with increased pain-related disability, pain intensity, reduction in physical functioning and poorer psychological well-being. A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) provides an opportunity to better understand and reveal key areas within the patient experience of these complex interactions to inform best practice and future intervention design.

The aim of this QES is to methodically and systematically review and synthesise the qualitative literature reporting on the personal experiences of people who are both living with obesity (PwO) and chronic pain.

The phenomenon of interest of this QES is the lived experiences of PwO and CP. The following research question was developed using a modified Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Study type (PICOS) framework: "What are the lived experiences of people living with obesity and chronic pain?". One review author will conduct a systematic search based on keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms for finding relevant articles in five peer-review databases, from inception to the date of searching. Two review authors will independently apply inclusion and exclusion criteria and screen articles in a two-stage process. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and data will be extracted using a customised template. We will undertake a thematic synthesis of qualitative data from included studies and report our findings narratively. Confidence in the findings will be assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CER-Qual) approach.

This study will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) and Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. It is anticipated that the findings of the review will facilitate a deep and broad understanding of the complex interactions between CP and obesity and will help inform best practice and future intervention design. Findings will be disseminated through journals that undergo peer review, presentations at conferences, engagement with public and patient advocacy groups, and social media.

Ethical approval is not required to conduct this review.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023361391.

About 40% of people respond to stress by consuming more unhealthy foods. This behavior is associated with increased energy intake and the risk of obesity. As mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) have been shown to be an easy-to-use intervention tool, the characterization of potential app users is necessary to develop target group-specific apps and to increase adherence rates.

This cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the spring of 2021 in Germany. Sociodemographic data and data on personality (Big Five Inventory, BFI-10), stress-eating (Salzburg Stress Eating Scale, SSES), and technology behavior (Personal Innovativeness in the Domain of Information Technology, PIIT; Technology Acceptance Model 3, TAM 3) were collected.

The analysis included 1228 participants (80.6% female, mean age: 31.4 ± 12.8 years, mean body mass index (BMI): 23.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2). Based on the TAM score, 33.3% (409/1228) of the participants had a high intention to use a hypothetical mHealth app to avoid stress-overeating. These persons are characterized by a higher BMI (24.02 ± 4.47 kg/m2, p < 0.001), by being stress-overeaters (217/409, 53.1%), by the personality trait "neuroticism" (p < 0.001), by having specific eating reasons (all p < 0.01), and by showing a higher willingness to adopt new technologies (p < 0.001).

This study suggests that individuals who are prone to stress-overeating are highly interested in adopting an mHealth app as support. Participants with a high intention to use an mHealth app seem to have a general affinity towards new technology (PIIT) and appear to be more insecure with conflicting motives regarding their diet.

This survey was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (Registration number: DRKS00023984).

To examine associations between perceived stress and cardiometabolic risk factors in South Asians with prediabetes and assess whether a diabetes prevention program mitigates the impact of stress on cardiometabolic health.

We conducted a secondary analysis of the Diabetes Community Lifestyle Improvement Program, a lifestyle modification trial for diabetes prevention in India (n = 564). Indicators for cardiometabolic health (weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, HbA1c, and lipids) were measured at each visit while perceived stress was assessed via questionnaire at baseline. Multivariable linear regression assessed associations between stress and cardiometabolic parameters at baseline and 3-year follow up.

At baseline, perceived stress was associated with higher weight (b=0.16; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.29) and waist circumference (b=0.11; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.21) but lower 30-minute postload glucose (b=-0.44; 95% CI: -0.76, -0.14) and LDL cholesterol (b=-0.40; 95% CI: -0.76, -0.03). Over the study period, perceived stress was associated with weight gain (b=0.20; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.33) and increased waist circumference (b=0.14; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.24). Additionally, higher perceived stress was associated with lower HDL cholesterol among the control arm (pinteraction = 0.02).

Baseline stress was associated with negative cardiometabolic risk factor outcomes over time in those with prediabetes.

This paper explores the ways in which Mexican immigrants experience, narrate, and describe stress and the extent to which it impacts their efforts at engaging in physical activity using a biocitizenship framework. Data were derived from a mixed-method study among Mexicans living in New York City recruited from a large Catholic church. The qualitative sample of 25 participated in quantitative and qualitative components of the study and as such we include some of these quantitative indicators as descriptors. Our main qualitative findings reveal that study participants experience stress and time constraint as factors that contribute to the waning of their physical and mental well-being. As such, time constraints for many of our participants were among the factors that contributed to high perceived levels of stress. They attributed this to their difficulty maintaining a physically active lifestyle due to factors like the fast-paced lifestyle in New York, working long hours, and not having enough time to exercise, though some important differences in narratives were noted across gender. Findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving the health of immigrants in general and Mexican immigrants in New York City specifically.

This study examined the association between physical activity patterns and abdominal and general adiposity.

Data were extracted among 20- to 59-year-old participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018. Abdominal and general adiposity was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometric measures. DXA-measured indicators were further normalized into z scores. Physical activity levels were collected by questionnaire and classified as inactive, "weekend warrior" (WW), and regularly active (RA). Survey linear regression models were used to assess associations between physical activity patterns and adiposity indicators.

Among 9629 participants, 772 (8.2%) reported the WW pattern and 3277 (36.9%) reported the RA pattern. Compared with inactive, both WW and RA had lower DXA-measured abdominal adiposity (WW: β: -0.24, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.10; RA: -0.18, 95% CI: -0.29 to -0.07), waist circumference (WW: β: -1.94, 95% CI: -3.16 to -0.73; RA: -1.31, 95% CI: -2.32 to -0.29), whole-body fat mass (WW: β: -0.16, 95% CI: -0.25 to -0.08; RA: -0.11, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.04), and BMI (WW: β: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.27 to -0.28; RA: -0.47, 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.04).

The WW pattern was associated with similarly lower abdominal and general adiposity to the RA pattern versus the inactive pattern.

Management of obesity is challenging for both patients and healthcare workers. Considering the low success rate of current interventions, this study aimed to explore the prevalence and associated factors of night eating syndrome (NES), insomnia, and psychological distress among individuals with obesity in order to plan comprehensive obesity management interventions.

A cross-sectional study on a convenient sample from five primary healthcare centers in Port Said, Egypt, was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected in addition to the assessment of NES, insomnia, and psychological distress using the Arabic versions of the Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire (NEQ), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) scales, respectively. Associations of NES, insomnia, and psychological distress were assessed by multiple regression analysis. We performed Bonferroni adjustments for multiple comparisons.

We included 425 participants with obesity with a mean age of 45.52 ± 6.96 years. In all, 54.4% were females and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 35.20 ± 4.41 kg/m2. The prevalence rates of NES, insomnia, and psychological distress were 21.6% (95% CI: 17.7-25.6%), 15.3% (95% CI: 11.9-18.7%), and 18.8% (95% CI: 15.1-22.6%), respectively. NES was significantly associated with younger age (OR 0.974, p = 0.016), physical inactivity (OR 0.485, p = 0.010), insomnia (OR 2.227, p = 0.014), and psychological distress (OR 2.503, p = 0.002). Insomnia showed strong associations with NES (OR 2.255, p = 0.015) and psychological distress (OR 5.990, p < 0.001). Associated factors of psychological distress symptoms included insomnia (OR 6.098, p < 0.001) and NES (OR 2.463, p = 0.003).

The prevalence rates of NES, insomnia, and psychological distress were high among primary care patients with obesity, and these conditions were interrelated. Optimal obesity management necessitates individualized and targeted multidisciplinary care plans that take into consideration individual patients' mental, behavioral, and dietary habits needs.

To analyse the direct and indirect associations of experience of racial discrimination on dietary patterns (DP), obesity and abdominal obesity.

This is a cross-sectional population-based study. The main exposure was self-reported experiences of racial discrimination (Experiences of Discrimination scale). The mediator variables were the DP: healthy, Brazilian traditional, sugar and carbohydrates, and fast food. The outcomes were obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm for women; ≥ 102 cm for men). Structural equation modelling was applied.

Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Totally, 400 adults aged between 20 and 70 years were participated.

The mean age of participants was 47·2 years (sd = 13·9), and 75 % were women. Experiencing racial discrimination had a positive direct effect on obesity (healthy DP: β = 0·153, P < 0·05; Brazilian DP: β = 0·156, P < 0·05; sugar and carbohydrates DP: β = 0·156, P < 0·05; and fast-food DP: β = 0·153, P < 0·05) and abdominal obesity (healthy DP: β = 0·206, P < 0·01; Brazilian DP: β = 0·210, P < 0·01; sugar and carbohydrates DP: β = 0·204, P < 0·01; and fast-food DP: β = 0·204, P < 0·01). The experience of racial discrimination did not have a direct effect on DP, nor did it exert an indirect effect on obesity and abdominal obesity through any DP.

A higher experience of racial discrimination is associated with obesity and abdominal obesity, independent of diet.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation has been suggested to play a role in the association between depression and obesity. The study aimed to investigate differences in cortisol levels in individuals with obesity with and without depression and the role of perceived stress on these differences.

Saliva samples were collected at awakening, 15-, 30- and 60-minutes post-awakening from 66 individuals with obesity (30 with major depressive disorder and 36 without major depressive disorder). Salivary cortisol was analysed using ELISA technique. Linear Mixed Models were used for group differences in cortisol awakening response (CAR) with adjustment for socio-demographic confounders and binge eating.

Individuals with obesity and depression had lower CAR compared with individuals with obesity without depression (β = -0.44; p = 0.036). When controlling for perceived stress, CAR was no longer influenced by depression (β = -0.09; p = 0.75), but individuals with moderate/high stress had lower CAR compared with those with low stress (β = -0.63; p = 0.036).

Our results suggest that differences in CAR between individuals with obesity with and without depression could be due to higher levels of perceived stress in the depressed subjects.

The link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and various stressors has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to examine the relationship between MetS and different perceived stressors.

In this study, we included participants of the Isfahan Cohort study from three counties in central Iran, with data in the 2007 (n = 3178) and 2013 (n = 1693) follow-up stages. We examined the association between distress and perceived stress domains (including job security, job conflicts, personal conflicts, loss and separation, social relations, and health concerns) and MetS.

MetS was identified in 35.8% of participants in the 2007 cohort and 46.2% in the 2013 cohort. In the fully adjusted analysis, the odds ratio (OR) (95%CI) for MetS according to psychological status was 1.65 (1.64-1.65) for psychological distress level, 1.09 (1.01-1.20) for psychological distress score, and 1.21 (1.09-1.42) for total perceived stress score. There was also evidence of association for social relations, personal conflicts, job conflicts, job security, health concern, loss and separation, educational concerns, and sexual life subscales.

Perceived stressors and some of their subscales were associated with MetS.

Specific measures of body fat distribution may have particular value in the development and treatment of cardiometabolic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we review the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and recent advances in the identification and management of body fat distribution as it relates to DM and CVD risk.

Accumulation of visceral and ectopic fat is a major contributor to CVD and DM risk above and beyond the body mass index (BMI), yet implementation of fat distribution assessment into clinical practice remains a challenge. Newer imaging-based methods offer improved sensitivity and specificity for measuring specific fat depots. Lifestyle, pharmacological, and surgical interventions allow a multidisciplinary approach to reduce visceral and ectopic fat. A focus on implementation of body fat distribution measurements into clinical practice should be a priority over the next 5 to 10 years, and clinical assessment of fat distribution can be considered to refine risk evaluation and to develop improved and effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for high-risk obesity.

Efforts have been made to improve health outcomes management by identifying the factors associated with survival in patients with cancer. However, different social, nutritional, and management modalities and personal and clinical characteristics may lead to various mortalities and morbidities among patients with cancer. Although stress is known to influence health and well-being in humans, there is still a gap in the studies on how stress plays a significant role in clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. Allostatic load, accumulated physiologic damage because of stressors, differs on the basis of individual perception of stress, coping skills, and other factors. This theory depicts how stress affects and predicts long-term outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. The main goal of this study is to provide potential benefits of using this theory in the cancer field to identify stressors and develop personalized interventions. This study will describe allostatic load theory and explain the relationships between potential stressors and the outcomes through the various levels of dysregulations in cancer. In addition, this study will provide theory implementation in pancreatic cancer.

Obesity epidemic is one of the most serious public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Alcohol has been studied as a possible risk factor for obesity, but the evidence is discordant. This study examined the association between alcohol consumption and obesity in a sample of the Irish adult population.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2017 Healthy Ireland Survey. The primary survey recruited patients using a two-stage probability-based technique and a face-to-face-administered questionnaire to collect data. Descriptive and comparative data were analysed to identify associations between alcohol-related variables with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between harmful alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C score ≥ 5) (exposure variable) and obesity indicators (WC and BMI), the primary outcomes of interest. Adjustments were made for sociodemographic, health-related, and other alcohol-related variables.

Total of 6864 participants, aged 25 and older, took part in this survey (response rate = 60.4%). Most of the participants (81.9%) were alcohol drinkers, with the majority drinking less than three times per week (76.3%); 47.7% were considered harmful drinkers (AUDIT-C score ≥ 5). After controlling for possible confounders, positive associations of harmful alcohol consumption with WC (β = 1.72, 95% CI: 0.25, 3.19) and BMI (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.96) were observed. Binge drinking was positively associated with WC (β = 1.71, 95% CI: 0.50, 2.91), while alcohol consumption frequency was significantly and inversely associated with BMI (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.78).

Harmful alcohol consumption was associated with obesity (high BMI, large WC) after controlling for possible confounders. Frequent binge drinkers were more likely to have a large WC, while frequent alcohol consumers were less likely to have obesity. Further longitudinal studies to examine the exact association between alcohol consumption and obesity are warranted.

There is a recent increase in the worldwide prevalence of both obesity and diabetes. In this review we assessed insulin signaling, genetics, environment, lipid metabolism dysfunction and mitochondria as the major determinants in diabetes and to identify the potential mechanism of gut microbiota in diabetes diseases. We searched relevant articles, which have key information from laboratory experiments, epidemiological evidence, clinical trials, experimental models, meta-analysis and review articles, in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google scholars and Cochrane Controlled Trial Database. We selected 144 full-length articles that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria for complete assessment. We have briefly discussed these associations, challenges, and the need for further research to manage and treat diabetes more efficiently. Diabetes involves the complex network of physiological dysfunction that can be attributed to insulin signaling, genetics, environment, obesity, mitochondria and stress. In recent years, there are intriguing findings regarding gut microbiome as the important regulator of diabetes. Valid approaches are necessary for speeding medical advances but we should find a solution sooner given the burden of the metabolic disorder - What we need is a collaborative venture that may involve laboratories both in academia and industries for the scientific progress and its application for the diabetes control.

The prevalence of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls has increased worldwide and is often associated with obesity in childhood as well as high fat/high glycemic index diets. Evidence suggests that subjects with obesity present with alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. The arcuate and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus are the centers of action of appetite hormones, as well as the location of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the activation of which results in the onset of puberty. This anatomical proximity raises the question of possible alterations in appetite-regulating hormones in patients with CPP. Furthermore, diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation constitutes a probable mechanism of the pathophysiology of CPP, as well as alterations in appetite-regulating hormones in young children. In this article, we summarize the evidence investigating whether girls with CPP present with alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. We present evidence that leptin concentrations are elevated in girls with CPP, ghrelin concentrations are lower in girls with CPP, nesfatin-1 and orexin-A concentrations are elevated among girls with premature thelarche, and insulin concentrations are increased in girls with early menarche.

Obesity is a chronic disease that increases morbidity and mortality and adversely affects quality of life. The rapid rise of obesity has outpaced the development and deployment of effective therapeutic interventions, thereby creating a global health crisis. The presentation, complications, and response to obesity treatments vary, yet lifestyle modification, which is the foundational therapeutic intervention for obesity, is often "one size fits all." The concept of personalized medicine uses genetic and phenotypic information as a guide for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and has been successfully applied in diseases such as cancer, but not in obesity. As we gain insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of obesity and its phenotypic expression, specific pathways can be targeted to yield a greater, more sustained therapeutic impact in an individual patient with obesity. A phenotype-based pharmacologic treatment approach utilizing objective measures to classify patients into predominant obesity mechanism groups resulted in greater weight loss (compared with a non-phenotype-based approach) in a recent study by Acosta and colleagues. In this review, we discuss the application of lifestyle modifications, behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy using the obesity phenotype-based approach as a framework.

Perceived stress has a significant effect on metabolic diseases, including obesity and hypertension. However, the association between stress levels, obesity, and hypertension according to age and sex is not fully understood. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between stress levels and obesity and hypertension in Korean adults and older adults.

We analyzed data from the 2015 survey of the Korea National Physical Fitness Project conducted by the Korea Institute of Sports Science and the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Of the 3457 participants, 2829 were adults (20-64 years old) and 628 were older adults (≥65 years old). The correlation between obesity and hypertension according to the degree of perceived stress (low, medium, and high) was analyzed using the chi-square test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of perceived stress levels on obesity and hypertension. Age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, exercise frequency, smoking, breakfast, and sleeping hours were included as covariates.

In adult males, perceived stress levels, age, and diastolic blood pressure were found to have a significant impact on obesity rates, whereas age and breakfast had a significant effect on hypertension rates. In adult females, age and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly influence obesity rates, whereas age, BMI, and exercise frequency had a significant impact on hypertension rates. In older adult females, perceived stress levels and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly impact obesity rates, and sleep duration influenced the rates of hypertension. The effect of perceived stress level on obesity and hypertension rates was less pronounced in the elderly population than in the adult population.

This study revealed age and sex differences in the relationship between perceived stress, obesity, and hypertension among Koreans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between perceived stress and metabolic disorders and emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of the specific factors involved in the prevention and management of metabolic diseases.

The prevalence of depressive disorder (DD) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) was almost twofold higher in women compared with men, both of which are confirmed to be related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The current study aimed to identify the prevalence of CVD risk factors and evaluate the 10-year CVD risk in female depressed patients with and without comorbid SH.

We recruited 1744 female inpatients with a diagnosis of DD. Venous blood samples were taken from all patients for lipid and thyroid hormones. Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to estimate the 10-year CVD risk.

Female depressed patients with SH had increased BMI, higher Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores, higher LDL-C, TC, UA, and a higher 10-year CVD risk than euthyroid DD groups. Serum TSH levels and HAMA scores were critical predictive variables for 10-year CVD risk in female depressed patients with comorbid SH.

Our study suggests that female depressed patients with SH have a high 10-year CVD risk. Serum TSH levels and HAMA scores may be helpful to predict cardiovascular risk in female patients with SH. The increased CVD risk in female depressed patients with comorbid SH requires more attention from researchers and clinicians.