Chronic and acute effects of stress on energy balance: are there appropriate animal models?

Abstract in brief

• Stress activates various neural and hormonal systems, especially the corticotropin-releasing factor system, to help animals respond to threats, which includes changes in energy use such as decreased food intake and increased heat production during acute stress.
• While acute stress typically causes weight loss and increased activity, the effects of chronic psychological stress on energy balance are more inconsistent; in humans, it can lead to weight gain, especially in those who show heightened HPA reactivity, but in rodents, it often results in weight loss, with some exceptions like socially defeated hamsters.
• Limited research exists on how stress affects energy balance in animals, but studying both human and animal responses to different types of stress could reveal important mechanisms that regulate body weight and could be useful for addressing weight-related health issues.