The cortisol stress response in youth with overweight and obesity: Influence of psychosocial variables

Summary Background Despite previous research pointing out a bifurcation in cortisol stress reactivity, it is not yet clear if all variables explaining inter‐individual differences in stress responses are captured. Objectives To explore which (psychosocial and demographic) variables predict the corti...

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Published in:Pediatric obesity 2023-06, Vol.18 (6), p.e13026-n/a
Main Authors: Verbiest, Ine, Verbeken, Sandra, Debeuf, Taaike, De Henauw, Stefaan, Michels, Nathalie, Braet, Caroline
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Alexithymia
Child
childhood obesity
Childrens health
cortisol reactivity
Hormones
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Obesity
Obesity - psychology
Overweight
Pediatrics
psychosocial factors
Saliva
stress
Stress, Psychological
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Summary:Summary Background Despite previous research pointing out a bifurcation in cortisol stress reactivity, it is not yet clear if all variables explaining inter‐individual differences in stress responses are captured. Objectives To explore which (psychosocial and demographic) variables predict the cortisol response after a standardized stress‐and affective state (SAS)‐induction in youth with overweight and obesity. Methods As part of a randomized control trial (SRCTN83822934) investigating the effects of emotion regulation (ER)‐training on top of a 10‐month inpatient multidisciplinary obesity treatment, 79 children and adolescents (9–15 years) with moderate obesity (M adjusted BMI = 154.35% overweight, SD = 24.57) completed a SAS‐induction before leaving the clinic. Results Those whose cortisol levels decreased (N = 59.5%) from baseline to reactivity showed higher levels of alexithymia than increasers (p = 0.049). Attachment avoidance was a significant positive predictor of relative cortisol decrease after SAS‐induction (p = 0.001). Age was significantly related to less cortisol decrease (p = 0.006). No significant effect of ER‐intervention group on relative cortisol change was found. Conclusions The current study provides evidence for a bifurcation in cortisol stress reactivity in youth with obesity. Our data further suggested that psychosocial variables (alexithymia and attachment avoidance) influence the cortisol stress response. Future research should further explore whether the attenuators are a more vulnerable group.
ISSN:2047-6302
2047-6310
DOI:10.1111/ijpo.13026