Can belly fat affect your brain? Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar explains how what's good for your waist is good for brain
Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar explains that visceral abdominal fat is linked to cognitive decline, dementia, and reduced brain volume. He emphasizes that lifestyle choices beneficial for waist health are also protective for brain health.
Why it matters
Understanding the link between visceral fat and neurological health provides a strong incentive for maintaining a healthy weight to prevent long-term cognitive impairment.
Abdominal fat has been associated with a higher risk of health ailments, including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, high blood sugar and diabetes, and even certain cancers. Now, research has shown that it might also affect your brain health. On July 21, Dr Sudhir Kumar, MD, DM, and a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, highlighted this very fact in an X (formerly Twitter) post.Also Read | Heart surgeon Dr Jeremy London shares the 1 dangerous thing for your health: ‘It can truly be a silent killer…’ Can belly fat affect your brain?In a post titled ‘Can belly fat affect your brain?’, Dr Sudhir explained how most people know that ‘excess abdominal fat increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease’.
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