Health risk behaviours and allostatic load: A systematic review.

Beena Suvarna, Aditya Suvarna, Riana Phillips, Robert-Paul Juster, Brett McDermott, Zoltan Sarnyai

Journal: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2020;108():694-711

PMID: 31846655

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Health risk behaviours (HRB) across the lifespan have been associated with higher cumulative physiological burden as measured by allostatic load (AL). This study examines the contribution of HRB and their effects on multisystem biological risk associated with morbidity and early mortality. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the links between HRB and AL. Twenty-six eligible human studies were included in our assessment of the current literature investigating the association of different HRB that included overeating/obesity, alcohol, smoking, drug use, physical inactivity and sleep impairments in relation to AL. We found that 50 % of obesity and substance abuse, 75 % of sleep and 62.5 % of combined HRB studies showed a significant association with AL. Lifestyle coping behaviours therefore have a significant contribution to AL. This study is among the first to explore multiple domains of HRB in relation to AL. Further research should focus on evaluating lifestyle factors that adapt HRB as a strategy to cope with chronic stress to help decrease AL and resulting long-term negative health consequences.

Address: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Science, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia; College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.; Department of Psychiatry & Addiction, University of Montreal, Canada.; College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Science, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.020

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Allostasis, Health Risk Behaviors, Humans, Obesity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep Wake Disorders, Stress, Psychological, Substance-Related Disorders