“…One potential mechanism is that maltreatment conditions the child to respond to stress by increasing food intake and/or decreasing activity (Greeno & Wing, 1994;Steptoe, Wardle, Pollard, Canaan, & Davies, 1996). Childhood maltreatment is a well-established risk factor for later depression and anxiety (Mullen, Martin, Anderson, Romans, & Herbison, 1996; OakleyBrowne, Joyce, Wells, Bushnell, & Hornblow, 1995; Portegijs, Jeuken, van der Horst, Kraan, & Knottnerus, 1996), and several studies have now shown that symptoms of depression and anxiety in childhood are associated with the later development of obesity, particularly in females (Anderson, Cohen, Naumova, & Must, 2006;Goodman & Whitaker, 2002;Hasler et al, 2005;Pine, Goldstein, Wolk, & Weissman, 2001;Richardson et al, 2003). Depression and/ or anxiety resulting from maltreatment may be associated with neuro-endocrine responses that alter metabolism, activity levels, or appetite (Bjorntorp, 2001;Chrousos, 2000;Nemeroff, 2004).…”