Understanding how stress affects diet and health in people facing food insecurity
Official title: Food Insecurity, Poor Diet, and Metabolic Syndrome: Cortisol’s Amplifying Role
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11131073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how stress, specifically the hormone cortisol, might worsen the health effects of food insecurity, such as obesity and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $429,350 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK128575-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals experiencing food insecurity who may also have high stress levels or chronic health conditions like obesity or metabolic syndrome could be relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing food insecurity or related metabolic health issues would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people in the U.S. struggle to get enough food, which can lead to health problems like obesity and diabetes. This project wants to find out why some individuals are more affected than others. We believe that high levels of a stress hormone called cortisol might make it harder for people facing food insecurity to eat healthy, leading to worse health outcomes. By looking at both long-term stress and how people react to sudden stressful moments, we hope to identify those most at risk for these negative health consequences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us better understand who is most vulnerable to the health problems caused by food insecurity, leading to more targeted support and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research and preliminary data suggest a link between stress hormones, food choices, and metabolic health, providing a foundation for this project.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tomiyama, a. Janet — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Tomiyama, a. Janet
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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.