The prevalence of Obesity is increasing rapidly around the world and together with this,even more cases of metabolic disorders and complications are reported everyday, as well as diseases such as cancer that are also related to obesity. However, being obese could affect us in ways never imagined before, in recent years it has been observed that subjects with obesity also suffer changes in some neural circuits that can decrease their quality of life, mainly those that have to do with motor and cognitive skills
Recently, researchers have found an inverse association between BMI levels, blood pressure and waist circumference with motor skills and cognition in healthy adults, whereas in children, obesity has a similar effect and can affect the ability with which they perform their daily activities, leading to low self esteem and other social problems.
Recently, researchers have found an inverse association between BMI levels, blood pressure and waist circumference with motor skills and cognition in healthy adults, whereas in children, obesity has a similar effect and can affect the ability with which they perform their daily activities, leading to low self esteem and other social problems.
The best characterized mechanism by which obesity could generate these disorders, is the association of obesity with Inflammation in the central nervous system, since obesity is a state that produces chronic low-grade inflammation. Specifically in the central nervous system, a diet that contains very high amounts of fats triggers inflammation in the hypothalamus, a brain area that is responsible for regulating functions related to appetite and energy balance, reproduction, stress management, among others; This inflammation blocks the action of leptin and insulin in this area of the brain and may even increase the severity of obesity by interfering with circuits that are responsible for hunger control and satiety. Hypothalamic inflammation is accompanied by inflammation in the hippocampus, the latter being extremely important for cognitive functions and could even cause a decrease in the density of neuronal populations of this part of the brain, leading to cognitive dispairment.
Systemic and central inflammation caused by obesity follows a pattern of a vicious circle, is not really known what comes first, although it has been reported that measures such as reducing weight and exercise reduce obesity-induced inflammation.
