I find it interesting that some people are affected by their diet and put their moods down to that as opposed to levels of cortisol.  I have read that high levels of cortisol actually are the cause of cravings for sweet things anyway and all the wrong kind of foods as well as causing fluid retention which in theirselves would lead to the weight gain.  Infact you will note particularly that when overly stressed, (this is when your cortisol levels increase) you tend to eat more sweet foods and more of the comfort foods.  This however, does not cause the depression.  It is the high cortisol levels that cause the depression.  Since these kids don't make cortisol and are totally reliant on it being administered  they arn't in control of the way it affects them at all.  Neither when it goes in the opposite direction and they don't receive enough---which has been clearly associated with depression and anxiety also.  If you look at the side effects of too much hydrocortisone or any corticosteroid, it states that depression or alteration of mood states can occur.  Often people are ashamed to admit that they are depressed or have succumbed to depression as they feel it will be perceived as a sign of weakness in their character.  However, that is simply not true and especially in these children who often have their doses raised---and that is sometimes for a brief time hopefully above their normal needs before they have the doses dropped back down to their exact requirements.  In doing this, it would seem they are exposed from time to time to effects as above.  I used to always ask my sons doctors about this and they fobbed me off giving me the same old drivvle about how the side effects would never upset him since he only received what he needed and that was replacement.. However, that was before he was given doses that were above his requirements.  In an ideal world with an excellent endo, he probably wouldn't be exposed to such, but  some kids don't have excellent endo's and are not so lucky.  Some kids are over exposed from time to time when they have a dose increase, especially if it is too much.  I would never deny one of my children treats and give my other kids them.  I would never deny the others treats either all because one of the kid cannot have them because he is being given too much cortisol.  It's very difficult for parents to do this kind of thing and too me it is also not really trying to solve the real problem, which if not addressed could affect more than a childs moods---i,e, if they are over suppressed, they are also not going to grow properly and their bones will be affected.  Anyway, here is that pdf file for parents who may be interested in it.  It makes for good reading:

  http://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/resources/pdf/clinschlrev9799/

Just go to the site and click on the file on the list called "Growing" and download. Takes a couple of minutes and you need Acrobat Reader to study it which you can download free from some sites such as ZDNet or C Net.

Regards

JH