The findings, published in the journal Obesity, are based on examination of hair samples for levels of cortisol, a hormone which regulates the body’s response to stress.
The study showed that exposure to higher levels of cortisol over several months is associated with people being more heavily, and more persistently, overweight.
“People who had higher hair cortisol levels also tended to have larger waist measurements, which is important because carrying excess fat around the abdomen is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and premature death,” said lead researcher Sarah Jackson from the University College London.