Latest news with #AugustoCésarF.DeMoraes
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Obesity in Teens Linked to Enlarged Brain Regions Associated with Memory and Emotion
With more than one in three American children now overweight or obese, researchers have uncovered a troubling connection: Teen obesity may be changing the size of brain regions critical for learning and emotional control, raising concerns about long-term cognitive and emotional development. According to the authors, both decreased and increased growth can be damaging. 'This is particularly alarming, given that the teenage years are such an important time for brain development,' said Augusto César F. De Moraes of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and the lead study author, in a press Abdominal Fat Affected the Brain Most The research, recently presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025), found that teenagers with abdominal obesity had significantly enlarged brain regions, particularly those responsible for memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Researchers used brain scans to measure the size of several brain regions in more than 3,300 young people with an average age of about 10, who were followed over four years. The results showed teenagers with abdominal obesity had a hippocampus approximately 6.6 percent larger and an amygdala about 4.3 percent larger compared with peers without obesity. The hippocampus helps with memory and learning, while the amygdala controls emotions like fear, happiness, and anger. Gillian Killiner, a specialist dietitian at 121 Dietitian, told The Epoch Times she considers the findings 'deeply concerning,' emphasizing that these brain changes raise significant worries about long-term cognitive development. Related Stories 1/24/2025 10/23/2024 The exact mechanisms are unclear, but one possible way obesity affects the brain is through inflammation. Excess body fat sends out inflammatory substances throughout the body. These chemicals can travel through the bloodstream and enter the brain. Once inside, they can trigger inflammation in brain tissue, potentially harming brain cells over time. The relationship between obesity and amygdala volume was particularly pronounced in those with very high obesity levels, suggesting a strong link between body fat and emotional regulation, according to De Moraes. Other regions, such as the thalamus and caudate, also showed volume changes, but to a lesser extent. The thalamus acts like the brain's central relay station, helping process and direct information to other regions. The caudate nucleus is involved in processing visual information and controlling movement. Socioeconomic factors also emerged as a key influence on brain development. Teenagers living in areas with limited access to quality education, safe parks, and healthy food showed less growth in key brain areas such as the hippocampus, putamen, and amygdala. 1 in 3 U.S. Teens Will Be Obese by 2050 The research comes amid alarming trends in childhood and adolescent obesity. The proportion of children and teens aged 5 to 19 carrying excess weight has more than Research published in December in Researchers warn that if current trends continue, by 2050, nearly one in three teens and two in three adults will be obese in the United States. Strategies for Healthier Brain Development To support healthy brain development and reduce obesity risk in teenagers, Killiner recommends several evidence-based approaches: Prioritize whole foods: Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats—especially omega-3s, which support brain health. Establish regular meal patterns: Consistent meals throughout the day help maintain stable blood sugar levels and curb overeating. Reduce ultra-processed foods: Limit sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and takeaway foods, which often contribute to inflammation and weight gain. Share meals as a family: Eating together encourages healthy habits and open communication. Build teen food autonomy: Encourage teens to make food choices and learn basic cooking skills to build confidence in healthy decision-making. Certain dietary patterns may specifically benefit adolescent cognitive and emotional health. 'The Mediterranean diet is a good option for adolescents, as it is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and unsaturated fats reducing inflammation, a key factor in both obesity and neurodevelopmental risk,' Killiner said, recommending the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet—a hybrid of Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets. 'This study is a sharp reminder that adolescent obesity is not solely a weight issue, it may also influence brain structure and emotional regulation,' Killiner said. 'We must act early with supportive, nonjudgmental interventions that focus on nourishment rather than restriction.'
New York Post
11-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
The ‘particularly alarming' ways that obesity affects teenage brains revealed in new study
Many people know that obesity carries certain health risks, as it makes you more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. But fresh research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity has experts concerned about the impact excess fat might have on the brain — especially in adolescents. After analyzing the brain scans of over 3,300 teens, they discovered that those with abdominal obesity had notably larger volumes in several brain regions compared to those without abdominal obesity. New Africa – The study found that obesity in teenagers is linked to significant changes in brain structure, particularly in areas responsible for memory, learning and emotional regulation. 'This is particularly alarming, given that the teenage years are such an important time for brain development,' lead author Dr. Augusto César F. De Moraes, an epidemiologist professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, said in a press release. After analyzing the brain scans of over 3,300 teens, they discovered that those with abdominal obesity had notably larger volumes in several brain regions compared to those without abdominal obesity. Specifically, the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory and learning, was approximately 6.6% larger — and the amygdala, which regulates emotions like fear and happiness, was about 4.3% larger. These results raise concerns on how obesity affects the cognitive abilities of teenagers, both now and further down the line. 'Our findings suggest that obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, can impair teenagers' learning, memory and control of emotions,' Moraes said. 'I worry about how these changes, which are occurring at the age of 13 or 14, might affect them later in life. There's even a chance they could be [at] a higher risk of things like of memory problems or dementia as they get older.' These results raise concerns on how obesity affects the cognitive abilities of teenagers, both now and further down the line. Viacheslav Yakobchuk – The study also noted that adolescents from lower-opportunity areas exhibited reduced development in some key brain regions compared to peers in higher-opportunity areas. Moraes said the research 'highlights the urgent need to address both social inequality and health risks to support not only physical wellbeing but also healthy brain development in youth.' 'That's why we believe supporting healthier habits early on is so important, not just for physical health, but for brain health too,' he said. 'Treating and preventing adolescent obesity won't only improve health — it may improve brain health, too.' These findings align with previous research indicating that obesity can lead to structural and functional brain differences in children and teens. For instance, a 2023 study reported that obese pre-teens exhibited stark differences in cognitive function and brain structure compared to their thinner counterparts. The prevalence of obesity among people aged two to 19 years in the US increased from 13.9% in 1999–2000 to 21.1% in 2021–2023. According to the CDC, an estimated 22.2% of US teens are classified as obese.
