Disentangling the effects of depression and perceived stress on cortisol levels in individuals with obesity: Preliminary results from a cross-sectional study

Nicole Mariani, Anna McLaughlin, Ellen Rae Lambert, Melisa Kose, Naghmeh Nikkheslat, Olivia Patsalos, Anna Bogdanova, Ghassan Chamseddine, Spyros Panagiotopoulos, Avril Chang, Francesco Rubino, Valeria Mondelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Background: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation has been suggested to play a role in the association between depression and obesity. The study aimed to investigate differences in cortisol levels in individuals with obesity with and without depression and the role of perceived stress on these differences.
Methods: Saliva samples were collected at awakening, 15-, 30- and 60-minutes post-awakening from 66 individuals with obesity (30 with major depressive disorder and 36 without major depressive disorder). Salivary cortisol was analysed using ELISA technique. Linear Mixed Models were used for group differences in cortisol awakening response (CAR) with adjustment for socio-demographic confounders and binge eating.
Results: Individuals with obesity and depression had lower CAR compared with individuals with obesity without depression (β=-0.44; p=0.036). When controlling for perceived stress, CAR was no longer influenced by depression (β=-0.09; p=0.75), but individuals with moderate/high stress had lower CAR compared with those with low stress (β=-0.63; p=0.036).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that differences in CAR between individuals with obesity with and without depression could be due to higher levels of perceived stress in the depressed subjects.
Original languageEnglish
Article number106387
Pages (from-to)106387
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume158
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Obesity
  • cortisol awakening response
  • perceived stress

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