Cortisol and the metabolic syndrome in South Asians.
Until the day I quit practising (or die, whichever comes first…) I will always come across patients who skip breakfast in an attempt to lose weight. And, like a robot, I go on to explain that this is probably one of the absolute worst things they can do to lose weight. Remember that the brain needs fuel, and if you deprived the brain of fuel through your diet, cortisol will be secreted to break down lean muscle mass to get the glucose of the brain. Less muscle mass = worsening of insulin resistance and weight gain. This article once again illustrates the intimate connection between insulin and cortisol and the snowball effect one has on the other.