Children’s stress influences their diet, physical activity and adiposity: longitudinal behavioural and hormonal pathways

consumption (BMI, p=0.020) or high cortisol awakening response (waist, p=0.030). Physical activity was a protective moderator: stress decreased adiposity in children with high physical activity (fat%, p=0.025). In the other direction, high BMI (p<0.001), high fat% (p<0.001) and psychological eating behaviour (p=0.014) also increased stress. High cortisol (overall levels, awakening response and diurnal slope) was associated with an unhealthy diet especially with the sweet foods.