Beyond its impact on appearance, obesity can significantly affect brain function and cognitive ability. Professor Angela Qiu, a distinguished scholar in the Department of Medical Technology and Informatics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, published a study titled "The Long-Term Effects of Obesity on Adult Brain Morphology, Functional Connectivity, and Cognition." The research indicates that persistent obesity accelerates brain aging, affects brain structure and function, and impairs cognitive abilities. The study also found that individuals with increasing weight show noticeable degeneration in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system—regions responsible for decision-making and reward processing—affecting memory, attention, and spatial perception.
Increased Risk of Cognitive Impairment
Excess fat accumulation leads to obesity, which can result in metabolic diseases (such as diabetes and hypertension) that affect cognitive function. As people age, those who are obese tend to perform worse in areas such as verbal fluency, memory, and reasoning ability.
Chronic Inflammation
Obesity can affect insulin resistance and vascular health, damaging brain cell health and neural connections. This may prevent the brains of obese individuals from functioning normally, leading to uncontrolled eating behaviors and creating a vicious cycle.
Exercise, Weight Loss, and Cognitive Improvement
To maintain and enhance our intelligence, regular exercise can boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor, repair neurons, and improve cognitive function, countering the cognitive damage caused by obesity. Even low-intensity exercise can improve brain blood flow and metabolism, helping to maintain brain health.
Lifestyle Habits to Control Weight
The fast-paced urban lifestyle in Hong Kong makes simple exercises essential to mitigate the negative effects of obesity on the brain:
- Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise daily, such as brisk walking, slow jogging, or swimming.
- Exercise in outdoor spaces like parks and waterfront promenades to benefit both physical and mental health.
- Incorporate strength training to maintain muscle mass and boost metabolism.
- Follow a balanced diet, avoiding excessive high-fat, high-sugar foods.
By maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise, we can significantly control our weight, prevent obesity, and thereby sustain good cognitive function, reducing the impact of obesity on the brain and improving overall brain health.
