Brief review: Glucocorticoid excretion in obesity

Cortisol secretion and glucocorticoid excretion rates are regularly increased in obesity and associate with indices of body size and visceral adiposity. Different mechanisms may underlie the elevated urinary excretion rates of cortisol metabolites in obesity. In the present brief overview, potential mechanisms are discussed, paying special attention to cortisol metabolism. Besides, potential confounding factors in the evaluation of urinary glucocorticoid excretion are highlighted. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.