Plasma cortisol levels in response to a cold pressor test did not predict appetite or ad libitum test meal intake in obese women

Heightened cortisol response to stress due to hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis may stimulate appetite and food intake. In this study, we assessed cortisol responsivity to a cold pressor test (CPT) as well as appetite ratings and subsequent test meal intake (TMI) in obese women. Following an overnight fast on two counterbalanced days, 20 obese women immersed their non-dominant hand for 2 min in ice water (CPT) or warm water (WW) as a control. Plasma cortisol (ng/ml), heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as ratings of stress, pain, and appetite, were serially acquired. An ad libitum liquid meal was offered at 45 min and intake measured covertly. Fasting cortisol was higher at 15 min (mean peak cortisol) following the CPT compared to WW. Higher stress was reported at 2 and 15 min for the CPT compared to WW. Pain, an indirect marker of the acute stress, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased following the CPT at 2 min compared to WW. Hunger decreased after the CPT at 2 and 15 min, and desire to eat ratings were lower following CPT compared to WW. Subjects did not have greater test meal intake (TMI) following CPT compared to WW. There was also no significant relationship between cortisol levels following stress and TMI, indicating that cortisol did not predict subsequent intake in obese women.

► We assessed whether stress-induced cortisol was associated with overeating in obese Ss. ► Cortisol rose in response to an acute stress or compared to the non-stress condition warm water. ► Stress-induced cortisol did not predict intake of the ad libitum test meal. ► The sympathetic nervous system may have overridden the expected cortisol effect.