Scientific Rationale:
Obesity poses significant health risks, particularly in relation to brain and physical health. Maintaining brain health is essential for cognitive functioning, independence, and quality of life in older people. When brain health is compromised – such as through cognitive decline, executive dysfunction, or neurodegeneration – it can lead to serious consequences including dementia and loss of autonomy. Growing evidence indicates that obesity adversely affects brain health through mechanisms such as systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and vascular dysfunction. Similarly, maintaining physical health is crucial for mobility, functional independence, and the prevention of frailty and disability. Physical health deterioration – characterized by muscle weakness, limited mobility, or chronic disease – can severely impair daily functioning and increase healthcare burdens. Obesity has been shown to accelerate physical decline by promoting muscle loss, increasing fat accumulation, and elevating inflammatory markers. Importantly, brain and physical health are interrelated and may influence each other. On one hand, physical health may mediate the association between obesity and brain health, while on the other hand, brain health may also serve as a mediator in the link between obesity and physical health. Given that obesity has become a critical public health concern worldwide, combining traditional BMI with body composition measures may provide a more comprehensive assessment of obesity and its impact on both brain and physical health.
Research questions:
How is obesity related to brain and physical health outcomes in adults?
Are brain and physical health interrelated in the context of obesity?
Objectives!
To explore associations between obesity and key indicators of brain and physical health.
To investigate the potential interrelationship between brain and physical health in relation to obesity.
