A study published almost three years ago in the medical journal Neurology found a curious link between the Size of your Belly and the size of your brain. People with more excess fat around the belly have a shrunken brain and less gray matter.

The Researchers behind the study at the University College London and Loughborough University reached these conclusions by studying the UK Biobank, an extensive data base on individuals’ genetics and health. They looked at almost 1,000 people, with an average age of 55.

The findings showed that people with a high BMI alone had slightly lower brain volumes, but those with high BMI and high waist-to-hip ratios were shown to have even less.

In fact, the difference was substantial: people with high BMI and a high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) had an average gray matter brain volume of 786 cubic centimeters, while healthy weight people had an average of 798 cubic centimeters. People in the middle, with a high BMI but without high waist-to-hip ratio, had an of 793 cubic centimeters. The white matter, however, did not appear to be affected by obesity.

Gray matter is made of nerve cells, among other things, and includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, sensory perception, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. White matter, on the other hand, contains nerve fiber bundles that connect various regions of the brain.

It’s unclear what effect this decreased gray matter linked with excess body fat might have on a person in terms of behavior and wider health problems yet.  This study suggests obesity could put you at a higher risk of dementia and other conditions affecting the brain.

Different research from different sources all around the world have and are showing the differents unwanted and unhealthy effect that obesity have in our bodies. If you, or a loved one, is struggling with obesity and unable to find a path to a healthy and permanent weight loss contact us and find out if Bariatric Surgery is a good option for you.

Mónica Valencia, MD – Board Certified Bariatric Surgeon

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