A Nation of Fatheads

[Guest guest]

A Nation of Fatheads?

By: Willow Lawson

Summary: Being overweight can make you lose your mind -- literally.

People who are overweight during their adult years have a higher

risk of cognitive disorders later in life.

If the risks of heart disease, diabetes and a lower quality of life

aren't reasons enough for you to watch your weight, then consider

what being fat may be doing to your brain.

People who are overweight or obese during their 30s, 40s and 50s

have a greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease as they age,

compared to people whose weight is normal, according to a 20-year

study of Swedes published in the Archives of Neurology.

Researchers used body mass index (BMI), an equation based on height

and weight, in the study. A healthy BMI is generally considered to

be below 25. The study found that the risk of dementia increased for

individuals with a BMI over 25.

That's not good news for the estimated 127 million Americans who are

overweight (with BMIs between 25 and 30) or the 69 million who are

obese (with BMIs over 30). Indeed, obesity is on the rise all over

the world, and public health officials warn that it poses a huge

risk to health in the coming decades.

Although the study didn't pinpoint the specific ways that extra

pounds cause harm to the brain, previous studies provide plenty of

evidence to suggest how being overweight takes a toll on the brain.

Hypertension. Much of the cognitive decline that we attribute to

aging may be caused by high blood pressure, which commonly goes hand

in hand with obesity. Over time, high blood pressure weakens blood

vessels, causing damage to the fragile inner lining of arteries.

This damage not only raises the risk of stroke or aneurysm, but

eventually, if not corrected, it reduces attention, learning and

memory, studies show.

Diabetes. Every year 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with Type

2, or adult-onset, diabetes. High rates of obesity are driving this

trend. Women with Type 2 diabetes have a four-fold greater risk of

cognitive decline than non-diabetic women, according to a recent

study. Diabetes seems to affect men's mental acuity to a lesser

extent, for unknown reasons. A diagnosis of diabetes does not seal

one's cognitive fate. A University of California-San Francisco study

found that diabetics who do not control their blood-sugar levels are

at the highest risk for mental decline later in life.

Poor Diet. High cholesterol is another risk factor for cognitive

problems in old age, the Swedish study found. High cholesterol can

be caused by a diet high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats and

hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Previous studies have linked " good " fats—polyunsaturated fats found

in olive and canola oils, fatty fish like salmon and nuts—to brain

health. These fats help raise levels of " good " cholesterol (HDL, or

high density lipoproteins), which helps the body get rid of " bad "

cholesterol (LDL, or low density lipoproteins).

While the research about obesity paints a grim picture, the good

news is that you don't have to drop 50 pounds to see a real benefit

to your health.

Studies show losing just a few pounds can raise levels of HDL

cholesterol. And losing just 10 percent of your weight if you are

overweight can significantly lower the risk of hypertension and

diabetes.

What's good for the body is especially good for the brain.