Níveis de cortisol elevado (por stress prolongado) podem levar a excesso de peso ou será ao contrário (R: não se sabe ainda)? E pode-ser ser obeso e viver mais que pessoas com IMC mais saudável (R: aparentemente sim):
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/06/is-it-possible-to-be-healthy-and-obese-stress
Citando:
" Long-term stress raises cortisol levels, and the researchers found that the larger volunteers had higher levels in their hair. So does this mean we can attribute obesity to stress and, if so, what can we can do about it?
The idea itself isn’t new. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands that sit on top of the kidneys. It plays a vital role in keeping glucose levels in the bloodstream in a steady state. When we are stressed or threatened, cortisol levels rise to release more glucose from stores in the liver, so we have more fuel to fight or run for our lives. Too much cortisol means too much glucose floating around and if it doesn’t get used, the excess is stored as fat."
(...)
Algumas perguntas ainda por responder:
"Is the raised cortisol a cause or an effect of obesity? Will lowering levels prove an effective treatment? And will we ever be able to stem the rising tide of obesity? Furthermore, is it actually that bad to be fat? Some might point to a studyshowing that older people who are overweight (BMI 25-30) live longer than those of normal weight and that the optimal BMI is 27. What they don’t say is that many of those will tip into being obese (a BMI of more than 30) as time goes on. "
