Stress influences our eating behaviors in surprising ways.
A recent study reveals that high levels of cortisone in the hair - an indicator of chronic stress - are associated with cravings and emotional eating.
Cortisol and Cortisone: two sides of the same coin
To understand this link, let's distinguish these two essential hormones:
Cortisol, the “stress hormone”:
- Released immediately in response to stress.
- Mobilizes energy, raises blood sugar and prepares the body for action.
Cortisone, its derivative form:
- Reflects the cumulative effect of chronic stress.
- Measured in the hair, it is a reliable marker of the long-term effects of stress.
In short, cortisol acts in an emergency, while cortisone traces the history of your stress.
Why does stress cause cravings?
When stress sets in:
- The brain's reward circuits go into overdrive, making calorie-rich foods irresistible.
- The appetite hormone ghrelin increases, even when there is no real need for energy.
- Circulating cholecystokinin increases, indicating a link between long-term stress and appetite hormone signalling.
Consequences: a vicious circle for health
For obese people, this phenomenon complicates :
- Weight loss.
- Metabolic risks, such as pre-diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Managing stress to manage weight
The solution lies in simple, effective practices: relaxation, meditation, physical activity, self-hypnosis or therapy. These strategies help you to regain balance, both hormonal and emotional.
By taking care of your stress, you're taking care of your health and overall well-being.
What do you think?
Learn more about Lactium for stress management!
Sources:
Long-term hair cortisone and perceived stress are associated with long-term hedonic eating tendencies in patients with obesity.
Kuckuck S, van der Valk ES, Lengton R, März J, Hillegers MHJ, Penninx BWJH, Kavousi M, Boon MR, van den Berg SAA, van Rossum EFC.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2025 Jan;171:107224.
doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107224.
Perceived Stress, Hair Cortisol and Hair Cortisone in Relation to Appetite-Regulating Hormones in Patients with Obesity.
Kuckuck S, Lengton R, Meeusen REH, van der Valk ES, Hillegers MHJ, Penninx BWJH, Kavousi M, Visser V, Boon MR, van den Berg SAA, van Rossum EFC.
Obes Facts. 2024 Oct 21:1-16.
doi: 10.1159/000542079.
Different Types of Glucocorticoids to Evaluate Stress and Welfare in Animals and Humans: General Concepts and Examples of Combined Use.
Botía M, et al.
Metabolites. 2023.
Doi: 10.3390/metabo13010106
Cardiovascular Disease and Hair Cortisol: a Novel Biomarker of Chronic Stress
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11886-019-1208-7#:~:text=Hair%20cortisol%20may%20be%20a,into%20hair%20over%20several%20weeks.
Measuring cortisol in hair, a new diagnostic tool for even very moderate Cushing's syndrome
https://www.egora.fr/medical/actus-medical/mesurer-le-cortisol-dans-les-cheveux-un-nouveau-moyen-diagnostique-du