Fig. 5.

Chronic stress and potential endocrine responses. Among the potential physiologic effects of chronic mental stress include alterations in hormone release that affect cardiac function (e.g., high blood pressure [23], cardiovascular events, and heart failure [20]). Mental stress can also adversely affect processes involving glucose and fat metabolism [15], as well as increase food cravings [4]. Potential contributors to mental stress include major life changes, adverse life encounters, adverse life situations, adverse socioeconomic factors [20], as well as encounters of adverse body weight stigma [24].