U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Obesity and Metabolism Research: Davis, CA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Laboratories
                        Bennett Group
                                    Huang Group
                                    Keim Group
                                    Laugero Group
                                    Newman GroupSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Davis, California Western Human Nutrition Research Center Obesity and Metabolism Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Laugero, Kevinitem
                                            FALCON, LUIS - Northeastern Universityitem
                                            TUCKER, KATHERINE - Tufts University
  Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2010
                                    Publication  Date: 11/9/2010
                                    Citation: Laugero, K.D., Falcon, L.M., Tucker, K.L. 2010. Associations Between Life Stress and Patterns of Food Intake and Physical Activity in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 56(1):194-204.Interpretive Summary: Psychological stress is linked with chronic disease, and it has been hypothesized that this may be particularly important to Puerto Ricans and other stress-vulnerable populations and individuals. Psychological stress may also present a significant barrier to adopting and adhering to dietary and activity patterns that promote health. Therefore recurrent exposure to stress may affect health, in part, through its influence on dietary and physical activity patterns. In this study, we examined relationships between life stress, hormones known to respond to stress, and dietary and activity patterns in more than 1300 Puerto Rican adults (age 45-75; 70% women) living in the Boston, Massachusetts area and participating in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Our findings suggest that the net effect of stress and cortisol may present a barrier to healthful dietary and activity patterns in Puerto Rican elders. Our results also provide new information that might help explain the high prevalence of chronic disease in this population and in other minority and underprivileged populations vulnerable to societal stress and its effects on health and well being.
                                Technical Abstract: Background: Previous research supports a relationship between psychological stress and chronic disease, particularly in low-income minority populations. Stress may affect health, in part, through its influence on dietary and physical activity patterns.  Objective: To probe this hypothesis, we examined relationships between perceived stress score, two hypothesized mediators of stress and effectors of food intake, insulin and cortisol, and dietary and activity patterns in Puerto Rican adults (age 45-75; 70% women) living in the Boston, Massachusetts area and participating in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Design:  Dietary intake, physical activity, serum insulin and urinary cortisol were determined in a cross-section of >1300 participants. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and ANCOVA.  Results: A higher level of perceived stress was associated with lower intakes of fruit, vegetables, and protein, greater consumption of salty snacks and foods with high glycemic index, and lower participation in physical activity. Further, and particularly in those with type 2 diabetes, perceived stress was associated with higher intake of sweets. In those without diabetes, cortisol was higher in participants reporting more stress. Cortisol was associated with higher intake of saturated fat and, in those with diabetes, sweet foods. Stress was associated with higher circulating insulin, which was associated with more time watching television, but not with any of the examined dietary variables. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that stress, cortisol, and type 2 diabetes may interact to influence dietary and activity patterns in this population. Longitudinal research is needed to determine the causal pathway for these associations.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov