The “Y” and how of stress eating: Neuropeptide Y on the crossover between feeding and stress
Summary
Chronic stress is detrimental to the health and increases the risk of obesity. Stress can
disrupt feeding behaviour, which is regulated by a complex neuronal and hormonal
network. The neuronal and endocrinal network of stress overlaps with the feeding
network at some points, leading to stress eating. One of these overlapping points is
neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent orexigenic and anxiolytic agent.
In this review, the overlap between the role of NPY in homeostatic feeding and in the
stress response will be compared. Stress can elicit varied responses on both feeding
behaviour and NPY expression and signalling. Acute stress inhibits feeding, whereas
chronic stress tends to promote feeding. The stress eating network is responsible for
stress eating, usually through the direct or indirect modification of NPY/AgRP
neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and could be a potential target for
the treatment of stress-induced obesity.