Brains Of Overweight People 10 Years Older Than Lean Counterparts

[Tennis]

Being overweight can do more to your head than just damage your self-image, it can literally damage your brain.

As far as this subject is concerned, there are two things that we already know. First off, it's long been established that our brains naturally shrink and lose white matter (the part that transmits information) with age. Similarly, obesity has already been linked to conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. However, the latest study has found that obesity and the aging of our brains are connected; specifically, that being overweight ages your brain to look 10 years older than that of a skinnier person's who is the same age.

In a study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, researchers from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience analyzed 473 people between the ages of 20 to 87 and divided them into two categories, depending on their weight: lean and overweight. In the end, they found that overweight people had less white matter in their brains compared with their leaner counterparts.

From there, they calculated how white matter volume relates to age across the two groups. In doing so, they found that an overweight person had a white matter volume comparable to a lean person who is 10 years older than them.

Interestingly enough, however, they only found this to be the case in people who are middle-age and above, giving credence to the belief that our brains are particularly vulnerable during that period of aging.

"The fact that we only saw these differences from middle-age onwards raises the possibility that we may be particularly vulnerable at this age," said senior author Professor Paul Fletcher in the report. "We're living in an aging population, with increasing levels of obesity, so it's essential that we establish how these two factors might interact, since the consequences for health are potentially serious."

However, while researchers now know what obesity can do to people in those age groups, they still don't know why that is the case.

"As our brains age, they naturally shrink in size, but it isn't clear why people who are overweight have a greater reduction in the amount of white matter," Dr. Lisa Ronan of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said. "We can only speculate on whether obesity might in some way cause these changes or whether obesity is a consequence of brain changes."

Similarly, they still don't yet know the full implications of these changes in brain structure. "This must be a starting point for us to explore in more depth the effects of weight, diet and exercise on the brain and memory," the report stated.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17...unterparts.htm


Great study here!

We have to hope that these researchers receive more funding so they can delve further into this area. The negative effects of being overweight cannot be understated it would seem.

[Dystemper]

Everyone knows being overweight is bad, why spend money on studying it ?

[Jotaux]

Everyone knows being overweight is bad, why spend money on studying it ?

To learn more about how our bodies function.

[Mrbleedinggums]

I like how you only highlight the part that you want to hear and not the following part:

Interestingly enough, however, they only found this to be the case in people who are middle-age and above, giving credence to the belief that our brains are particularly vulnerable during that period of aging.

[the game]

I like how you only highlight the part that you want to hear and not the following part:

Interestingly enough, however, they only found this to be the case in people who are middle-age and above, giving credence to the belief that our brains are particularly vulnerable during that period of aging.

This must be your first tennisace thread.

[Zenotetsuken]

Great study here!

We have to hope that these researchers receive more funding so they can delve further into this area. The negative effects of being overweight cannot be understated it would seem.

I would much rather see research money be spent on something important. But, please Tennisace continue your long running "fatty" witch hunt.

[Vargulf the Happy Husky]

im an overweight person at age 30 and i feel mentally 10 years ahead of the other 28-32 year olds i work with, is that the same?

furthermore, id like to add to the study. ill be taking in high amounts of thc and alcohol over the next decade, so you guys can study me and see how things go.

[Bapestar]

Oh god, you guys get triggered so easily lol.

[looorg]

"Despite the differences in the volume of white matter between lean and overweight individuals, there was no apparent connection between being overweight or obese and an individual's intelligence or cognitive functions."

[Dystemper]

Tell us Tennisace, What should we be eating to be healthy? we need you to tell us

[Stacyrect]

I ate a stick of butter while reading this article, thank you

[Milchshake]

Based on the replies so far. I can't tell if posters are fat people or have Early Onset Dementia.

[Deleted]

Everyone knows being overweight is bad, why spend money on studying it ?

To understand why. Like all science, really.

Anyway, more motivation to get back in the gym habit.

[Raetary]

Based on the replies so far. I can't tell if posters are fat people or have Early Onset Dementia.

you sound like you are for the first time in one of tennisace's threads.

[THE Bigzoman]

Love you Tenn.

Your crusade against fatties is well noted.

We'll keep eating. you just tell us when to stop.

[TheramoreIsTheBomb]

Dont really understand [excluding disease/disability] why someone would -want- to be overweight. it makes you unattractive, people joke on fat people -all- the time, it has horrible side effects, takes SO fucking long to lose all that weight, etc. like why...? just push back the fucking fork.

[Tennis]

I would much rather see research money be spent on something important. But, please Tennisace continue your long running "fatty" witch hunt.

How is this a witch hunt? This is research based on cold, hard science.

[DrMcNinja]

Dont really understand [excluding disease/disability] why someone would -want- to be overweight. it makes you unattractive, people joke on fat people -all- the time, it has horrible side effects, takes SO fucking long to lose all that weight, etc. like why...? just push back the fucking fork.

Food above all, baby

Thank heavens for my high metabolism

[Ayla]

I ate a stick of butter while reading this article, thank you

Well, it's better than margarine.(until it changes back again).

[DrMcNinja]

Well, it's better than margarine.(until it changes back again).

"Butter is bad for you! No Margarine! Ehhh"

It keeps changing. Back when I was young I read stories about fish being bad for you, now it's meat that increases your chances of getting cancer and everyone is hooked on fish again.