If you’re overweight, you may be at greater risk for stress-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It’s known that stress can trigger biological responses similar to the effects of illness, including inflammation. While inflammation is an important part of our healing response, runaway inflammation can contribute to life-threatening diseases.
In a recently published paper in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, Brandeis researchers observed that overweight and obese individuals have higher levels of stress-induced inflammation than those within a healthy weight-range. "We’ve known that overweight and obese individuals already have chronic, low grade inflammation," says psychology professor Nicolas Rohleder, the study’s principal investigator. "Now, it seems that when you add stress to the mix, it’s a double hit."