How stress affects eating habits and obesity
Stress, 'comfort' food, and obesity
This study looks at how people turn to high-calorie comfort foods when they're stressed and how this can lead to weight gain, especially by comparing how normal-weight and obese individuals respond to stress and food, using a controlled experiment with rats to better understand this connection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10604369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how people use 'comfort' foods, which are often high in calories, to cope with stress and how this behavior can lead to obesity. It aims to understand the biological mechanisms that allow these foods to provide stress relief in individuals with normal weight and how this process is disrupted in those who are obese. By using a controlled feeding experiment with rats, the study will explore the relationship between stress, food intake, and body weight, providing insights into the cycle of stress and overeating.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who struggle with stress-related eating and obesity.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience stress-related eating or who are not affected by obesity may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for managing stress-related eating and obesity, improving overall metabolic health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding the relationship between stress and eating behaviors can lead to effective interventions, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ulrich-Lai, Yvonne Michelle — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Ulrich-Lai, Yvonne Michelle
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.