Obesity Slowing You Down Mentally? Pick up the Pace

For decades there has been well-documented evidence of the vicious cycle of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. That is, being sedentary may lead to obesity, which in turns leads to an even less active lifestyle. However, new research has shown that obesity may indeed be slowing down the overweight not only physically but mentally as well. New research has successfully linked overweight and obesity to cognitive dysfunction in adults.

A recent study examined the relationship of cognitive (dys)function and BMI (Body Mass Index) over a five-year period in healthy 32 to 62-year-old men and women that were active in the workforce. At the beginning of the study, those with higher BMI were found to experience greater cognitive dysfunction throughout the five-year study. This study thus highlights that high BMI is independently related to cognitive dysfunction in adulthood.

Another recent study examined the relationship of BMI at 25 years of age with cognitive (dys)function throughout the adult lifespan. The findings of this study indicate that higher BMI in humans at 25 years of age leads to greater cognitive dysfunction later in adulthood. Moreover, this study highlighted that the larger the increase in BMI from 25 years of age to midlife, the greater the cognitive dysfunction.

Not too sure what to take from this? It is not too late to begin tackling your BMI with these five easy steps:

1. Work out: It is recommended that adults engage in at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. To make more sustainable changes, I suggest that you start slowly and build up to more over time.

2. Bring down the Fructose: Research has shown that fructose is stored as fat faster than all sugars. So limit processed, sugar-containing foods.

3. Boost Fiber: In March 2011, I wrote a recent post about the wonders of Fiber. To summarize, one of the most notable facts about fiber is that it is not considered to contribute any calories to the diet. Excellent sources of fiber include fruits and veggies, whole grains, and nuts and seeds.

4. Boost Calcium: A recent study has found that those on a lean, dairy-rich diet significantly lost weight.

5. Eat Differently: This is a two-tiered approach. First, avoid those foods that are high in bad carbs (sugars) and bad fats (saturated and trans fats). Second, eat more at breakfast and lunch, as larger meals during the day provide the energy required for daily activities, while calories consumed late at night will be stored as fat.