Belly fat, stress hormones and diabetesFrom the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat. People with more belly fat have a higher risk of developing diabetes. But a study at Duke University Medical Center indicates stress may also contribute. Researcher Richard Surwit measured levels of the stress hormone epinephrine when African-American women recalled stressful situations. He also measured blood sugar levels – known as blood glucose – which can indicate the risk of diabetes. And he recorded the amount of belly fat. [Richard Surwit speaks] "People with the high belly fat and the high epinephrine levels, fasting glucose was the highest – so they were at the highest risk for developing diabetes." Surwit can’t say if stress reduction reduces risk of diabetes, but he says diet and exercise can. The study for a meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Learn more at hhs.gov. HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss. Last revised: April, 30 2009 |