The Study: Obesity is associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities: where do we go from here?
The Facts:
a. Obesity is the number one cause of preventable death.
b. 35.9% of American adults are obese.
c. It is associated with many complications including “impairments of brain structure and function.”
d. However the mechanisms by which these impairments in the brain occur is not understood.
e. BMI is associated with changes in the white matter.
f. The link may be that BMI is also linked to problems such as “…inflammation, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia,and elevated blood pressure…” as well as a host of other problems.
g. BMI has also been associated with changes in gray matter.
h. Cognitive impairment is associated to BMI.
i. Future studies could be done where each individual served as their own control group and this would assist us in understand how BMI affected the changes that occur as a person ages.
j. It is likely that the type of effects that BMI has on peripheral tissues overlaps with BMI associated changes in the brain.
k. The effects of obesity on endothelial function may be one of those that creates problems both in the brain and in peripheral tissue.
l. Research in the effects of obesity on the brain may be of particular importance to those most “at risk for premature neurocognitive decline”.
Take Home:
It appears clear that obesity has many deleterious effects on both the brain as well as the body. While we certainly do not understand all the reasons and all the effects, obesity can both disable and kill and should be taken seriously and given the attention it deserves.
Reviewer: Roger Coleman DC
Editor: Mark R Payne DC
Editor’s Comments: It’s easy to think of obesity as a disorder which only affects our patients from the neck down. We now know it’s not that simple. Understanding the long term effects of high BMI on mental function helps us to not only understand the disease itself, but also gives us an additional bit of emotional leverage to use when communicating to patients the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Reference: Convit A. Obesity is associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities: where do we go from here? Psychosom Med. 2012 Sep;74:673-4
Link to Abstract: