A controversial study showed that being overweight is directly related to lowering the IQ of students, as it affects the cerebral cortex responsible for decision-making, thinking, intelligence and creativity. And the University of Vermont researchers linked the performance of students with a high body mass index to negative results in tests, compared to those with a healthy body mass index. According to the British newspaper “The Sun”, the scan showed that the outer layer of the brain associated with memory and decision-making is thinner in obese people. The study included 3190 children between the ages of 9 and 10 years. Examinations revealed that overweight people have a thinner frontal cerebral cortex compared to those with normal weight. The cortex plays an important role in a person's ability to plan and control their behavior. "Memory deficits contribute to making poor food decisions, which supports the persistence of health problems in adulthood in obese people," said lead study author Dr. Jennifer Laurent. Overweight people are more likely to develop heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Reuters (Washington)