Wednesday fitness fun fact
Being fat makes men dumber but not women....
(Fortunately we are much smarter to begin with) 
Obesity isn't only harmful to men's health, it may also affect their brains. A new study suggests that being overweight can actually increase the risk of mental decline in men, making it more difficult for their brains to function at peak levels over time.
Researchers say it's the first major study to show that obesity alone might decrease brain power. Previous research has already shown that conditions commonly associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, can reduce brain power.
"We were a little bit surprised when saw the data," says researcher Merrill Elias, MPH, PhD, research professor of epidemiology in mathematics and statistics at Boston University. "The results indicated that persons who are chronically obese have a higher risk of [lowered mental ability] -- all other things being equal."
The study, published in the February issue of the International Journal of Obesity, found that obesity works independently -- as well as in conjunction with other risk factors -- to cause a decline in thinking ability, especially memory and learning.
They found that obesity and high blood pressure -- both alone and in combination -- had a negative effect on brain power in men but not in women.
Experts say that obesity may damage brain function by making it harder for blood to reach the brain, similar to high blood pressure and heart disease.
"I would think obesity would work through the same heart disease mechanisms, recalling that obesity is now a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease," says Charles Billington, MD, associate director of the Minnesota Obesity Center.
Billington says there has been very little information on the link between obesity and mental ability, but the results are not at all surprising considering the strong association between obesity and other chronic illnesses, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
"Those who value their [brain power] would interpret this data as a very strong reason to maintain a normal weight," Billington tells WebMD. "I have a high desire to maintain my ability to think well as I get older, and I would assume others would feel the same."
on 5/14/08 6:24 am - Houston, TX
