Study Shows a Large Belly Increases the Risk of Dementia

A Kaiser Permanente study, published in the March 26, 2008 issue of Neurology, suggests that people in their 40's with larger bellies have a higher risk of developing dementia when they reach their 70's.

Previous studies have also shown that a large abdomen increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease.  These illnesses also increase the risk of dementia.

Researchers in Northern California studied 6583 adults aged 40-45.  Approximately 36 years later, 16% of these people had developed dementia.  

Those who were overweight and carried excess fat in their abdomen were 2.3 times more likely to develop dementia than similarly matched adults at a healthier weight.  

Subjects who were obese and had a large belly had a 3.6 times greater likelihood of developing dementia than their healthy counterparts.

Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above while overweight is considered a BMI of 25.  A BMI of 30 means a person is approximately 30 pounds overweight.  The BMI is calculated using a person's height and weight and correlates strongly with overall fat content.

To calculate your own BMI go to www.halls.md/body-mass-index/av.htm

Additionally, researchers found that those most likely to have abdominal obesity were non-whites, smokers, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, and those with less than a high school education.