The study involved 50 participants who were between the ages of 18 and 35, and who had a BMI of 18 through 51. They were given the "Treasure-Hunt Task," which involves hiding a number of items in a complex scene, such as a desert scene that includes palm trees. They are given two days to hide a number of items, and then they had to recall what they had hidden, when they hid them, and where.
The conclusion of the study was that those who were overweight and obese scored poorly on the test. The test provides support to the idea that both the function and structure of the brain are altered by excess bodyweight, as well as reducing the performance levels of certain mental tasks.
This is a serious concern because about 60 percent of the people in the UK are currently overweight. It also increases the risk of other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, and it also raises the risk of depression and anxiety.
The study was reported in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, and was conducted by researchers at Cambridge, England.
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Source: http://www.science20.com/news_articles/being_overweight_linked_to_poorer_memory-166697
Photo: Unchanged; by biologycorner
Keywords: brain, obese, overweight, episodic, memory, reduced, study