Did You Know That Obesity Can Slowly Destroy Your Brain?

There are approximately 60 million obese people in the United States. It is widely accepted that the rising rates of many degenerative and deadly diseases is directly attributable to the lifestyle choices that lead to obesity. And this epidemic has not been contained to our borders. As the “Great American Diet” has metastasized to distant shores, so too has the obesity rates in these countries, and all of the problems that go along with it.

Studies Show Disturbing Relationship Between Obesity and Brain Health

Researchers can now add a new set of maladies to this impressive list of fat-related diseases – severe brain degeneration. In numerous different studies over the past handful of years, a disturbing relationship between obesity and cognitive impairment and decline has been demonstrated. This small sample of studies and the conclusions made should be cause for concern for all those who find themselves among the population of overweight individuals.

A UCLA study compared brain scans of obese people over the age of 70 to those of healthy weight people of the same age. The obese people had 8% less brain tissue, and their brains showed markers indicating that their brains were 16 years older than the normal weight. Overweight but not obese test subjects had 4% less and were 8 years older than normal. Researchers drew a connection between this evidence of “severe brain degeneration” and increased rick of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders.
A study published in Neuropsychology found a strong correlation between obesity and reduced attention, impaired fine motor skills and poor information processing. These learning disabilities were noted in another study connecting adolescent obesity and poor student performance. Interestingly, executive brain functions seemed unrelated to weight in younger subjects but became significant in older obese adults who showed a marked deficit.
A 2011 study drew a connection between obesity and compromised structural integrity of the brain as seen on imaging studies. This finding correlates with another study that measured C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood and obesity. The chronic systemic inflammation signaled by the elevated CRP is thought to be the cause of compromised structural integrity of brain matter.
Not surprisingly, another university study drew a link between obesity, ADHD and other learning disabilities.

None of this should come as much surprise, but when science starts to prove the things we already think to be true, it’s time to sit up and take notice. There is little room left for denial or politically correct thought in this matter. Obesity is ruining the brains of 30% of the American population as well as 240 million people around the rest of the world.

The one good piece of news in all of this is that studies suggest that the cognitive impairment caused by obesity is reversible.

3 Steps to Take to Reverse Neurological Decline

Move! Turn off the TV or the computer and get up and exercise each day. There is no better cure for the ills of obesity than 3-5 hours per week of exercise.
Change Your Diet. The other edge of the obesity sword is the food that is being eaten. Processed and fast foods are replete with, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, and toxins that compromise your body’s ability to maintain a healthy body composition. Fresh, whole foods cooked at home are a key step in your evolution back to health, vitality and optimum cognitive function.
Create an Internal Environment for Change. Use these nutrients to aid your body in its transition back to health and homeostasis:

Liver Support – use a well-designed liver support formula to help restore a clean liver that will properly metabolize fat and manage glucose.
Gastrointestinal Health – restore balance in you digestive tract with probiotic support.
Reduce Inflammation – turmeric can help reduce inflammation as well as offer support to your liver, gallbladder, digestive system, and more.
Heal Your Brain Cells – and all the other cells as well by adding a high-quality antioxidant supplement into your daily vitamin regimen.