ENDOCRINE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF WOMEN WITH RECENT WEIGHT-GAIN

A group of 13 consecutive regularly menstruating women who gained at l east 5 kg the previous year (Group I) was compared to a control group of similar age, parity, and social class (Group II). The two groups we re similar in estimated and observed food intakes; pre- and postprandi al gastrin levels; hourly 24-h profiles of cortisol and insulin; urina ry cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. Group I had higher serum pr olactin concentrations at ah times than Group II (mean values 14.60 mu g/l vs. 8.84 mu g/l; p = .0121). Galactorrhea was observed in 5 women from Group I and in none of the women from Group II (p < .05). Group I also differed from Group II in a higher incidence of meaningful life -events the year preceding the study, higher prevalence of sexual dysf unction (9/13 vs. 4/13; p < .01) and higher indexes (p < .05) of sever al parameters in the MMPI and SCL 90. Median serum cortisol and prolac tin concentrations were negatively correlated, both in Group I (R = -. 669; p =.012) and in the whole sample (R = -.453; p = .0298). It is su ggested that the rapid weight gain is part of a neuroendocrine respons e to environmental stimuli also characterized by hyperprolactinemia. T he significant negative correlation between serum prolactin and cortis ol indicates that this response differs from, and is possibly an alter native to, the sympathoadrenal ''stress'' response.