London - Fat children may be more stressed-out than other youngsters.
A study found levels of the stress hormone cortisol were almost 50 percent higher in obese boys and girls. The researchers said this could be because of the strain of being bullied.
As cortisol fuels weight gain, this could make it more difficult for them to get slimmer. Finding out more could lead to new treatments for childhood obesity.
Almost a third of ten to 11-year-olds and more than a fifth of four to five-year-olds in England are overweight or obese, leading to fears today’s generation will be the first to die at an earlier age than their parents.
The Dutch researchers measured levels of cortisol in samples of hair taken from 20 obese children and 20 of normal weight.
The build-up of cortisol in hair is seen as a sign of long-term stress and levels were clearly higher in the obese children
Researcher Erica van den Akker said: “We were surprised to find obese children as young as eight already had elevated cortisol levels. By analysing scalp hair, we were able to confirm high cortisol levels persisted over time.”
Dr van der Akker, of Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam, said it is possible the stress of being bullied was behind the rise.
She said: “We know from other studies that hair cortisol can be used as a biomarker of psychological stress. We also know obese children are at risk of being bullied and of having lower self-esteem.”
If psychological stress is to blame, obese children could be prescribed relaxation treatments. Another explanation is some children naturally make more cortisol which causes them to put on weight.
If this is the case, cortisol-lowering drugs would be a more appropriate treatment, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports. - Daily Mail