Biological and Psychological Stress Correlates Are Linked to Glucose Metabolism, Obesity, and Gender Roles in Women

Abstract

Objective. Psychological stress affects central as well as peripheral metabolism and hormone trafficking via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Stress thereby plays a decisive role in the etiology and progression of overweight and obesity, leading to several chronic diseases such as diabetes, and mental health disorders. The interplay of biological and psychometric correlates of stress, anthropometric, immunological and metabolic parameters and psychosocial factors such as gender roles, however, remains poorly understood. Methods. In this exploratory study, 43 healthy women were assessed for glucose metabolism by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and computation of functional parameters for insulin secretion, sensitivity and resistance. Further, the fatty liver index and anthropometric parameters body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat and lean mass were assessed. Psychological stress assessment included the “brief symptom inventory” (BSI), the “burn-out dimensions inventory” (BODI) and perceived stress scale (PSS). Biological stress response was evaluated with heart rate variability (HRV) and cortisol levels. Finally, gender role self-identification was assessed with the “Bem sex role inventory” (BSRI). Generalized linear models were computed for exploratory association with psychometric outcome. Uncorrected p-values are reported. Results. Burn-out and perceived stress scores were associated with insulin secretion, sputum cortisol, TSH, anthropometric measures and gender role. BSI ratings for psychiatric symptom dimensions were associated with insulin resistance, sex hormones, anthropometric measures and gender role. Female self-identification was associated with higher BMI as well as body fat and a higher fatty liver index. Conclusion. Considering the increased risk of unfavorable metabolic, cardiovascular and also mental health outcome in obese women, a higher BMI in women with predominant female gender self-identification may be relevant for clinical risk assessment. The broad range of interacting biological, psychological and gender-related parameters calls for an integrative management of both mental and endocrinological health. However, the exploratory nature of the study calls for replication in larger samples before definite conclusion can be drawn.

Short Term Caloric Restriction and Biofeedback Enhance Psychological Wellbeing and Reduce Overweight in Healthy Women

“…All women were screened clinically for eating disorders by trained healthcare staff of the "La Pura" Women's Health Resort and all participants showed a BMI above the 25th percentile of the normal range (>20) at participation, Participants had to be not currently pregnant and screened negative for any severe or chronic illness other than obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. As described before [27], none of the women had diabetes. A total of 7% of women showed metabolic syndrome according to the definition of the world diabetes federation, requiring the presence of central adiposity together with any two of the risk factors triglycerides: ≥150 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol <50 mg/dL, blood pressure ≥130 systolic or 85 mmHg diastolic, respectively, or fasting plasma glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL [28].…”

“…Baseline characteristics and the recruitment protocol of the sample were described before [27], and details concerning all parameters included in analyses are provided in Supplementary Table S1. In short, women above 18 years of age were recruited at the VAMED gender institute (https://www.vamed.com/en/company/gender-institute/, last accessed on 20 October 2021) in cooperation with the "Gender Medicine Unit" of the Medical University of Vienna between 2019 and 2020.…”

Análise Farmacológica E Toxicologica Do Monoterpeno Sabineno: Um Estudo in Silico

“…Por ser uma patologia crônica e comum em profissionais de saúde, mais estudos são necessários para diminuir os seus índices. Além do sofrimento psíquico, que se assemelha aos quadros de ansiedade e de depressão, essas alterações metabólicas levam a distúrbios posteriores, decorrentes do aumento da glicose, obesidade, elevação da pressão arterial (KAUTZY et al, 2021).…”

Sexually dimorphic role of the locus coeruleus PAC1 receptors in regulating acute stress-associated energy metabolism

“…Severe stressors lead to behavior and metabolic dysfunctions with a sexually dimorphic etiology ( Dallman et al, 2003 ; Dedert et al, 2010 ; Nowotny et al, 2010 ; Farr et al, 2014 ; Levine et al, 2014 ; LeardMann et al, 2015 ; Michopoulos et al, 2016 ; Wolf et al, 2016 ). Understanding neural mechanisms of stress-related energy metabolism can allow development of novel ways of balancing optimal energy metabolism to reduce maladaptive impact on health and well-being ( Breslau, 2002 ; Raikkonen et al, 2002 ; Dobie et al, 2004 ; Tolin and Foa, 2006 ; Heppner et al, 2009 ; Bell et al, 2011 ; Roenholt et al, 2012 ; Kubzansky et al, 2014 ; Udo et al, 2014 ; Buta et al, 2018 ; Pooley et al, 2018 ; American Psychological Association, 2020 ; Escarfulleri et al, 2021 ; Kautzky et al, 2021 ).…”