Obesity: What It Does to Our Minds

The result of a deadly combination of sugary drinks and fast food not only weighs down our bodies, but also our minds.

Bearing the burden of obesity is tough to take on. Whether it is the result of a lack of dietary monitoring or side effects caused by medicinal treatment, being overweight can affect us in a multitude of ways. The key to dealing with this problem has been known for a long time. The most paramount of all weight loss methods: exercise.

Slow but effective, it has become common knowledge that the only way to lose fat is by working out and maintaining a healthy diet. However, during this time, obesity may take a greater toll on you beyond the physical state. More specifically, how it changes our minds.

So how is obesity actually changing our minds?

1. Obesity increases the chance of contracting a memory loss condition

The increase of fat in the body has been associated with a decrease in the total brain volume. It is also possible that extra fat can trigger inflammation which can place stress on the body. The decrease of volume and chronic inflammation in the brain has been associated with a greater risk of dementia and poorer scores on cognitive tests. It has also been associated with brain damage. A study published by the Journal of the American Geriatric Society in 2013 looked at the memory test scores for almost 9,000 women of the ages 65 to 79. The study results revealed that a 1-point increase in BMI (body mass index) was associated with a 1-point decrease on a 100-point test of memory.

2. Obesity increases the risk of depression

Obesity is very often associated with mental health/emotional problems such as anxiety, sorrow, and ultimately depression. A study from the year 2010 found that those with obesity suffered a 50% greater risk of contracting depression than those who aren't obese. Obesity can also lead to other physical health problems including hypertension and diabetes, both of which have also been linked to depression. Stress linked to obesity also leads to depression.

3. Obesity usually inflicts food addiction

Like a virus, obesity caused by overeating spreads by influencing our brains to eat more and more. This triggers a “food addiction” which leads to greater obesity levels and the risk of obesity related disease. Much like abusing drugs, highly palatable, sugary, heavy fat foods stimulate the reward centers in the brain, producing addiction-like responses and tolerances, demanding more and more food each time.