Sideways News

Brains of the 51 overweight people were six per cent smaller than a slim person's

While many would argue that keeping fit can also give people a healthier mindset, new research has suggested that the brain could indeed benefit from exercise and a good diet.

The study by researchers at the University of California used brain scans of 94 people in their 70s to consider whether opinions that a person's body mass index could impact on their mental health are true.

It found that the brains of the 51 overweight people were six per cent smaller than their "normal" counterparts, while those struggling with obesity had suffered shrinkage of eight per cent.

The frontal and temporal lobes – which are used for planning and memory – were particularly affected and the findings could be vital as such brain shrinkage has been linked to dementia in the past.

However, it was also found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help counter the effects, which may encourage the one in four adults in England that are obese to tackle the issue.

"The most strenuous kind of exercise can save about the same amount of brain tissue that is lost in the obese," Paul Thompson, professor of Neurology at the University of California, explained.

"This indicates that it is blood flow that drives brain health, not the other way round."

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