Obesity has Alarming Effect on Brain Function| Study

Last updated on February 10th, 2023 at 12:56 pm

We all know the adverse effect of obesity on our health, but a recent study finds that it can even have an alarming impact on our brain function. The new brain imaging study¹ finds that excess body weight slows down the flow of blood to the brain.

We have covered other useful research on obesity like:

• Sleeping with smartphone, TV, lights on may lead to obesity
• Quickly achieve weight loss goal by restricted eating

In this article, we will dive deeper into what made scientist conclude the connection of brain function with obesity.

Let’s get started.

Obesity & brain function

This new study was conducted at Amen Clinics, one of the leading brain-centred mental health clinics in the United States concludes that as a person’s weight goes up, all regions of the brain go down in activity and blood flow. Actually, doctors already knew obesity as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, but, they were curious of its impact on brain. To find out the connection between obesity and brain function, scientist made use of brain imaging study.

If you are curious whether you are over weight or obese, you may use this BMI calculator to find out yours.

So, how was the study designed nad whom they recruited for the purpose.

Research method & participants

Almost 17,721 adults of age between 18–94 years were recruited and their BMI score were calculated based on the body weight and height of the person. They categorised BMI score into following:

1. Underweight (BMI < 18.5),
2. Normal weight (BMI = 18.5 to 24.9),
3. Overweight (BMI 24.9 to 29.9),
4. Obesity (BMI≥30), and
5. Morbid obesity (BMI≥40).  

Brain scan was done for every participant and scientists analyzed over 35,000 functional neuroimaging scans.

The result of the study were alarming.

Obesity adversary affect brain function

Low cerebral blood flow to brain is the most important brain imaging predictor that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease. It is also associated with depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, addiction, suicide, and other conditions.

The temporal and parietal lobes, hippocampus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and precuneus, were found to have reduced blood flow along the spectrum of BMI classification from normal weight to overweight, obese, and morbidly obese.

“This study shows that being overweight or obese seriously impacts brain activity and increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as many other psychiatric and cognitive conditions,” explained Daniel G. Amen, MD, the study’s lead author and founder of Amen Clinics, one of the leading brain-centered mental health clinics in the United States. 

What does it mean for us

I simply mean that we must have a check on our body weight. This we can achieve by practising time-restricted eating or regularly consuming green coffee.

You should also have a active lifestyle by adding morning walk or jogging in your daily routine or simply join a cardio session at your town.

Keep reading: Alzheimer’s affects more women than men. Study finds why