Although the complex relationship between stress and eating
has long been recognized in humans [3], the underlying
psychobiological mechanisms that shape the direction of
change–whether one eats more or less during stress,–are
largely unknown.
Past research has shown that being female,
overweight, or scoring high on dietary restraint are all predictors
of eating more during stress
Thus, one's
psychological stress reactivity may be a clue as to differences in
psychobiological characteristics that explain stress eating or
food cravings.
, although it is difficult to test their independent effects
in people. The relationship between cortisol and food intake in
humans may also involve effects of glucocorticoids on Neuropeptide
Y (NPY), CRH [45], leptin [32] as well as opioid [46] and
endocannabinoid [47]signaling, as described in more detail below