Tomas Zurita1, Kelly F M Kazmierski1, Larissa Wong1, Megan Faulkner1, Sabrina Kuo1, Heather Huszti2, Uma Rao1,2,3,4,5. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA. 2. Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California, USA. 3. Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA. 4. Department of Psychological Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA. 5. Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: African-American (AA) and Hispanic/Latina (HL) females have higher obesity prevalence than do non-Hispanic Whites (NHW); this may be due to AA and HL consuming more energy-dense foods in response to stressors. OBJECTIVES: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in dietary intake under controlled conditions (relaxation and stress) in a diverse sample of adolescent females. METHODS: Participants included 120 adolescent females (30% AA, 37% HL and 33% NHW) who participated in a laboratory food intake study. Using a randomized cross-over design, ad libitum food consumption was measured following control/relaxation and social-evaluative stress conditions. Food intake was indexed as consumed calories, added sugars and solid fats. RESULTS: The effect of laboratory conditions on food intake varied by race/ethnicity, such that AA consumed more energy following relaxation than following stress. For NHW and HL, food intake did not differ between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, these findings are the first to directly observe racial/ethnic differences in food intake in response to acute stress, which may contribute to obesity-related health disparities.
BACKGROUND: African-American (AA) and Hispanic/Latina (HL) females have higher obesity prevalence than do non-Hispanic Whites (NHW); this may be due to AA and HL consuming more energy-dense foods in response to stressors. OBJECTIVES: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in dietary intake under controlled conditions (relaxation and stress) in a diverse sample of adolescent females. METHODS: Participants included 120 adolescent females (30% AA, 37% HL and 33% NHW) who participated in a laboratory food intake study. Using a randomized cross-over design, ad libitum food consumption was measured following control/relaxation and social-evaluative stress conditions. Food intake was indexed as consumed calories, added sugars and solid fats. RESULTS: The effect of laboratory conditions on food intake varied by race/ethnicity, such that AA consumed more energy following relaxation than following stress. For NHW and HL, food intake did not differ between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, these findings are the first to directly observe racial/ethnic differences in food intake in response to acute stress, which may contribute to obesity-related health disparities.
Authors: Mary F Dallman; Norman Pecoraro; Susan F Akana; Susanne E La Fleur; Francisca Gomez; Hani Houshyar; M E Bell; Seema Bhatnagar; Kevin D Laugero; Sotara Manalo Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2003-09-15 Impact factor: 11.205