HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

Does obesity shrink your brain?

Belly fat is linked to a new hazard. It seems people with excessive fat around their middles tend to have less grey matter in their brains than people of a healthier weight.

Researchers from Loughborough University and University College London measured BMI and waist-tohip ratio of 9,652 middle-aged people and used MRI to scan brain volume.

Those with a BMI of 30 or more (making them obese) and a high waist-to-hip ratio had a significantly lower average grey matter volume than those of healthy weight, but obese people without a high waistto-hip ratio showed fewer signs of brain shrinkage, suggesting body fat around the middle is a factor.

Scientists are, however, unsure if brain shrinkage drives obesity or vice versa. Poor diet and lack of exercise could be responsible.