Blunted cortisol response to stress is associated with higher body mass index in low-income preschool-aged children

摘要: No known studies have tested the hypothesis that a blunted pattern of cortisol reactivity to stress, which is often found following exposure chronic life stressors, associated with higher body mass index (BMI) in very young children. Low-income children (n = 218, mean age 56.6 (range: 38.1 78.5; SD 7.0) months, 49.1% male, 56.4% white, 16.1% black, 11.5% Hispanic/Latino) participated series behavioral tasks designed elicit stress. Cortisol was sampled saliva 5 times during protocol, and area under curve (AUC), representing total output stress elicitation, calculated. Children were weighed height measured z-score Linear regression used evaluate association between AUC BMI z-score, controlling for child age, sex, race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white vs. not); primary caregiver weight status (overweight, defined as > 25 family income-to-needs ratio. Mean 0.88 (SD 1.03). 6.11 μg/dL/min 10.44). In fully adjusted model, each 1-standard deviation unit decrease AUC, child's increased by 0.17 (SE 0.07) standard units (p <.02). A response seen exposure, Further work needed understand how associations cortisol, elevated may develop early lifespan.