JCEM: Relationship between hair cortisol concentration and fat in children

Starting in childhood, stress can lead to poor body fat distribution.
, a study published recently in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, an authoritative journal in the field of endocrine and metabolic diseases, aims to assess the association between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) at age 6 and general and organ fat indicators at age 10, overweight and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk, and to assess the association independent of obesity indicators at age 6.
researchers measured HCC in the hair of 6-year-olds (n-2042), and the study's main outcome indicators were BMI over 10 years, fat mass index (FMI) measured by DXA scan, and visceral fat index measured by MRI, heart fat index, liver fat score, and overweight and NAFLD risk.
association between higher HCC at age 6 and higher BMI, FMI, and increased risk of overweight at age 10 can be explained by the association observed at age 6.
HCC at age 6 and a higher liver fat score at age 10 (standard deviation score for liver fat score (SDS) was 0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.03-0.1) 8) is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD (OR 1.95, 95% CI is 1.06-3.56), independent of FMI at age 6, and HCC is independent of the heart bag or visceral fat index.
it can be seen that higher HCC at age 6 is associated with increased BMI, FMI, liver fat scores at age 10, and higher risk of overweight and NAFLD, with only liver fat scores and NAFLD associated with FMI at age 6.