CORTISOL AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OBESITY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN

Naser M. Al-aasswad*, Zuhal AN. Dambur and Ibrahim AM Eshnaf

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a major risk factor for mortality worldwide, significantly increasing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Cortisol has a wide range of physiological effects throughout the human body and plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism, body composition, and immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory responses. Any defect in this can lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome in healthy individuals, The aim is to study the level of cortisol concentration in the blood and its relationship to obesity in married women. A total of 110 married women, aged 20-40 years, participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements were taken and a blood sample was collected for laboratory tests. questionnaire and signed unset was obtained. The results shows that there were significant differences between waist circumference, hip circumference, weight and BMI. The statistical test showed a significant differences in hematological profile, which significantly increased with the increase of BMI, Except for the platelet which is not significant. results also showed that there were no significant differences between the BMI groups for cortisol concentration. The correlation between the level of cortisol concentration and the obesity showed that there was medium negative correlation (r = - 0.489) with significant differences (p = 0.006).

Keywords: obesity – cortisol – Body mass index - waist circumference - hip circumference - hematological profile).