Previous studies have shown that being as little as four pounds overweight can raise your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, but did you know that those extra lbs can also affect your memory?
In a small preliminary study of young adults between 18 and 35, researchers from the Department of Psychology at Cambridge found an association between high body mass index (BMI) and poorer ability to recall past events.
The results, published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, support existing findings that excess bodyweight may be associated with changes to the structure and function of the brain and its ability to perform certain cognitive tasks optimally.
In particular, obesity has been linked with dysfunction of the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in memory and learning, and of the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in decision making, problem solving and emotions.
It might even make it difficult for overweight people to clearly remember what they’ve already eaten, making them more likely to overeat later on.
“How vividly we remember a recent meal, for example today’s lunch, can make a difference to how hungry we feel and how much we are likely to reach out for that tasty chocolate bar later on.” says Dr Lucy Cheke.
“… it is possible that becoming overweight may make it harder to keep track of what and how much you have eaten, potentially making you more likely to overeat.”
The team hopes the research may enable the creation of interventions that will help fight obesity.
