BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of developing several
psychiatric illnesses, including major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Likewise, these stress-related disturbances are associated with a higher rate of obesity; yet,
the neurobiological mechanisms linking obesity and stress remain incompletely understood.
METHODS: Following exposure to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), mice were given free
access to either regular chow or a Western-style diet high in triglycerides and cholesterol …