Obesity and cognitive health:
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that about 70% of adults, living in American and are older than 20, are overweight and obese. This alone puts them at a higher risk for several health issues. It is well documented; that obesity is linked to many health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, gout, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
- A new clinical study has revealed that obesity can also be linked to cognitive health. It was discovered that people (especially young adults), who are overweight, were able to remember less than their peers, who were at a healthy weight. It has been published by researchers that brain shrinkage is a negative consequence of obesity. The parts of the brain that are mainly affected are the frontal lobes (which is the seat of intelligence), and the hippocampus (which is the area that is used to form and improve memory capabilities). These findings were published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Dr. Lucy Cheke study:
- For this study, Dr. Lucy Cheke and her team from the Psychology Department of Cambridge University recruited 50 volunteers, between the ages of 18 and 35. The body mass index (BMI) of the volunteers ranged from underweight (which is a BMI of about 18) to extremely obese (which is a BMI that exceeds 50). The volunteers were asked to perform a computerized memory exam that is referred to as the “Treasure Hunt Task.”
- The data collected showed that participants with the higher body mass index performed worse on the memory portion of the test. The results of this most current study are consistent with previous studies that showed that obesity does indeed have a negative impact on brain function.
- It is important to note, that the Treasure Hunt Task was developed specifically for this study, and it is not considered to be part of the standard testing for brain function and memory loss. Alpha zxt is one of many supplements that are currently on today’s market; that is said to boost memory abilities, but it is not recommended for weight loss. If obesity is, in fact, a risk for declined cognitive function, it would be logical to focus on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Dr. Cheke explains:
“We’re not saying that overweight people are necessarily more forgetful, but if these results are generalizable to memory in everyday life, then it could be that overweight people are less able to vividly relive details of past events – such as their past meals. Research on the role of memory in eating suggests that this might impair their ability to use memory to help regulate consumption.
In other words, it is possible that becoming overweight may make it harder to keep track of what and how much you have eaten, potentially making you more likely to overeat.”
Overweight and Poorer Memory:
Although further testing is required, to confirm these findings, the research done so far has provided the scientific and medical community with some intriguing insights into the link between cognitive function and eating habits. In earlier conducted studies, it was proven that patients that had amnesia, and were unable to remember that they had just eaten, will continue to eat, without achieving the feeling of being full and satisfied. Therefore, a vicious cycle begins: excess body weight has a negative impact on learning ability, and this impacts a personal memory (specifically, their most recent meals), and inability to regulate their consumption of food. If this ongoing research is proven viable, it could lead to innovative ways for individuals to regulate their consumption of food, and in turn, reverse the growing obesity epidemic.
Obesity and Related Diseases:
John Gunstad, from Kent State University, was one of the authors of a study where the results were reported in the Journal of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. This study cited that the evidence is growing, that obesity is linked to a decline in mental health, specifically memory loss. According to this study, obesity is linked to many physical diseases, such as heart-related issues and other life-threatening diseases. It also seems to have a negative effect on how information is processed in the brain.
This particular study was conducted on participants who weighed an average of 300 pounds. It was discovered, that weight loss improved their cognitive function. Gunstad believes that when obese individuals lose at least 20 pounds in a traditional manner (such as eating right and exercising regularly), they will experience the same physical and mental health benefits, as individuals who have undergone gastric bypass surgery, but without all the potential risks associated with this type of surgery. Individuals, who did undergo gastric bypass surgery, show the encouraging signs of memory improvement and better organizational skills, within 90 days following surgery This study, in turn, also showed that obese individuals that did not lose weight or get the surgery showed an ongoing decrease in their ability to recall and memorize. This study adds to the evidence that it is strongly suggesting, that obesity is linked to and raises the risk of dementia, stroke, sleep apnea, hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, which are all diseases that are detrimental to brain function.
With each new clinical test, it is becoming more and more obvious, that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is something that we all should strive towards for optimal physical and mental health.