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Bigger Body, Smaller Brain: Obesity Affects More Than How You Look
Obese people have, on average, eight percent less brain tissue than people of normal weight, according to a new study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping.1 Even overweight people have four percent less brain tissue than their normal-weight peers. Apparently, gaining too much weight has a shrinking and aging effect on the brain, in addition to increasing your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
The new study showed that age, gender, and race don’t matter. MRI brain scans of obese people revealed that their brains are smaller and appeared to be 16 years older than brains of lean people. The brains of overweight people appeared to be 8 years older. As brain shrinkage is associated with dementia, these findings are of great concern. The researchers note, “Obesity depletes your cognitive reserves, which puts you at greater risk of Alzheimer’s and other diseases that attack the brain. But you can greatly reduce your risk for Alzheimer's if you can eat healthily and keep your weight under control.”2
The areas of the brain that are primarily affected include the frontal and temporal lobes, which are responsible for planning and memory. The researchers hypothesize that as increased body fat increases the number of clogged arteries, blood and oxygen flow to the brain is reduced. This lack of blood flow to the brain causes cell and tissue death and, therefore, brain shrinkage. Interestingly, the research also showed that regular, vigorous exercise has the reverse effect. Physical activity can actually conserve brain tissue, which further supports the idea that blood flow is at least partly responsible for the maintenance or shrinkage of our brains. Of course, exercise also helps greatly in preventing obesity and its related conditions and risks.
According to the World Health Organization, poor diet and more reliance on convenience and processed foods contribute greatly to obesity. Fast foods and lack of portion size control is a particular problem in our country, where “Super Sizing” every restaurant meal has contributed to our expanding waistlines.
These new study results highlight the importance of exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods and limiting your portion sizes. Not only will these healthy habits go a long way towards maintaining your weight and reducing the risks associated with obesity, they can help you maintain a healthy brain – which will end up affecting much more than how you look.
1 Professor Paul Thompson from the University of California and Cyrus A.Raji from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
2 http://www.humanbrainmapping.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
