Effect of Obesity on the Brain Performance

Obesity, or overweight, is not so problematic if only a few excess pounds. Overweight condition can increase the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart as well. Recent research suggests that obesity may also cause other problems such as memory, thought and power of analysis is weakened. The good news, an international research team reported that, these problems can be repaired, along with reduced weight.

Previous research has shown a link between diseases caused by overweight with cognitive problems. Cognitive derived from the word cognition, which refers to the brain process of collecting, analyzing and using information. In previous studies, people with heart disease or high blood pressure - diseases that are closely associated with obesity - have a memory, thought and power analysis are lower than those of normal weight.

Health experts define obesity based on a scale called a body weight index (BMI) - This is a mathematical calculation that uses height and weight. To find out your BMI, go to "Calculate your BMI". If someone has a BMI above 30, then that person is categorized as obese.

For the new study, scientists want to find out if obesity can result in lower scores on cognitive tests. The researchers created a study involving 150 volunteers who are overweight. The study was chaired by John Gunstad, a psychologist from Kent State University in Ohio, which examined how the disease affects the ability to think.

Gunstad and colleagues asked 150 obese people to take cognitive tests. The researchers then compared the results of these tests with the test results in healthy people. The researchers found that, in general, volunteers with obesity, testnya results will be lower compared with healthy people. In several tests, including tests of memory, almost 1 in 4 obese people have a very low score so it can be categorized in the "unable to learn" or "disabled."

After the initial test, 109 participants were doing similar surgery to help lose weight. Twelve weeks after the procedure, the participants lost weight about 25 kilograms per person. Gunstad and his colleagues then gave them another test and found that participants who lose weight will get a higher score on the test power of memory.

This does not occur in participants who did not lose weight, either through surgery or other means. The participant is instead to score worse on the next test.

"These results are a little surprising," said Gunstad told Science News.

Effect of obesity on the brain. A collection of nerve fibers in the brain is protected by a white insulation material. Recent research has shown that obesity can damage the material, likely complicate the signal to move from one place to another in the brain.
In another study, researchers investigated the possibility of a connection between obesity and brain function. Scientists use a tool called a magnetic resonance imaging (Magnetics Resonance Imaging / MRI) to look into the human brain. MRI, which uses magnet fields and radio waves, producing three-dimensional images of internal organs.

Gunstad and colleagues used MRI to study the collection of nerves that information to the brain drain. White and greasy substance, surrounds and protects the nerves of this collection. Gunstad and colleagues found a defect in the outer layer of protection on those people who are obese.

"It's not like a cable cut," said Gunstad told Science News, but the damage can be a problem for a signal that tries to move from one place to another in the brain.

Mark Bastin, an expert on images of the brain at the University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital in England, told Science News that the results of MRI studies Gunstad very interesting and thorough. But he noted that the study Gunstad have a small scope, the results can be used as a benchmark for the initial step in large-scale scientific research.

In the brain, obesity can damage the nerve channels. In a larger scope, obesity affects the thinking power, memory and power analysis. In the overall scope, obesity has a very bad for the mind and body. One in three people in the U.S. population, or 72 million people in the United State, are obese, and have a high risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as cognitive problems.

"For a long time, doctors have known that being overweight is bad for your body," said Gunstad. "Obesity can damage the heart and cause difficulty in breathing. Now advanced research, suggests that excess weight can also damage the brain, the main part of your brain that is important to remember and learn new things. This will cause you trouble to do your best and get good grades in school. "

In recent years, the number of children and adolescents who are overweight jumped drastically. "If this pattern continues." Gunstad said, "This will cause the number of people who suffered brain damage and the risk of having problems at work and school," This is why Gunstad provide recommendations for children to protect their brain to maintain weight healthy, berkonsutaltasi on parents and teachers about healthy foods and exercising regularly. In addition, the scientists also argued that "A healthy body will produce a healthy brain."