NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that excess belly
fat combined with high stress levels may boost the risk of developing type 2
diabetes in black women, a group disproportionately affected by the disease.
"Much attention has been given to the role of obesity in the development of
type 2 diabetes, but stress may be as important in this at-risk population,"
said Dr. Anastasia Georgiades, of Duke University Medical Center, Durham,
North Carolina.
She and colleagues determined the amount of fat in the abdomen of 62
healthy, nondiabetic African-American women and had them take an emotional
stress test. As the women recalled stressful life events, the researchers
measured their blood sugar and levels of epinephrine -- the "fight or
flight" hormone released in reaction to stress.
Women with a lot of belly fat and high epinephrine levels had high blood
sugar during the stress test and while fasting. "Elevated fasting glucose
(sugar) has been identified as a risk factor for the development of diabetes
and cardiovascular disease," Dr. Richard Surwit, an investigator on the
study, noted in an interview with Reuters Health.
In contrast, women with a low amount of belly fat and high stress and women
with a lot of belly fat and low stress did not have high blood sugar.
It's no mystery why stress and obesity interact to raise blood sugar, Surwit
said. "Epinephrine stimulates the breakdown of fat which leads to the
production of free fatty acids. Free fatty acids compete with glucose as a
fuel and basically raise blood sugar in that way," he explained.
"If you are overweight, then stress is going to interact with that extra
weight and perhaps increase your blood sugar," he concluded. The findings
were presented at the American Psychosomatic Society annual meeting.
Source : Reuters
