Americans are struggling with their health as demonstrated by the estimated 66% of the population now overweight and/or obese. Being overweight is linked to an increased risk for such disorders as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Now there’s another risk to be added to the list.
According to a study, published in the British Medical Journal, the risk of developing dementia goes up as your weight increases.
The researchers looked at more than 10,000 members of the Kaiser Permanente medical program in California, who were between the ages of 40-45 in the 1960’s and 70’s. They found that people who were overweight had a 34 percent increased risk of developing dementia. However, if the individual was obese, then the risk rose to 74 percent.
The correlation was strongest for women. If fact obese women had a 200 percent increased risk of developing dementia.
Controlling weight at any age is important, but if you have found your weight has increased during your 20’s and 30’s I encourage you to seek help to prevent further weight gain.
