These findings lead to a simple prediction, namely that for the same stressor, if you tend to secrete more glucocorticoids than most, not only are you going to have a bigger appetite post-stressor, you’re going to go apple, preferentially socking away more of those calories in your abdominal fat cells. And that’s precisely what occurs. Epel has studied this in women and men across a range of ages, and she finds that a prolonged glucocorticoid response to novelty is a feature of applish people, not pears.
