Belly fat is linked to smaller brain size, scientists say – but they don’t know which causes which
- People with a higher body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio tend to have lower brain volume, researchers say
Extra belly fat could be linked to a shrinking brain, according to a study published Wednesday.
Researchers measuring body mass index and waist-to-hip ratios found people with higher ratios of both had the lowest brain volume, according to a study published in an online issue of Neurology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study observed 9,652 people with an average age of 55.
About 1,000 participants with high BMI and waist-to-hip ratios had the lowest average of grey matter in the brain, which controls self-control, muscle control and sensory perception, compared to about 3,000 participants of healthy weights who had an average amount of grey matter.
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About 500 participants with a high BMI but not a high waist-to-hip ratio also had an average amount of grey matter.