Figure 4.

Alignment of the 24-hour profile of serum 2-AG (solid lines) with the 24-hour centrally controlled circadian rhythm of cortisol (dashed lines) in obese (panel A; red lines) and nonobese (panel B; black lines) participants. For each profile, all data are shown as % of the individual 24-hour mean and the closed circle represents the mean timing of the cortisol nadir and 2-AG acrophase (phase reference point for cortisol and 2-AG) in the corresponding group of participants. The grey squares on each profile denote the time of the nadir and the grey circles the acrophase. The horizontal double-sided arrow denote the time interval separating the phase reference point for 2-AG from the phase reference point for cortisol in obese (top panel) versus nonobese (lower panels) participants. In both panels, the standard error of the mean (SEM) is represented as a vertical bar at each time point and the black vertical arrows denote the identical carbohydrate-rich meals given at 0900, 1400, and 1900.