Are obese individuals dumb?

The scientific community is well aware of the statistically significant correlation associating a low IQ level with a high level of body fat. Do people who eat too much and poorly become obese and consequently less intelligent?

That’s what was believed until recently; however, a recent study has statistically demonstrated that a low IQ is a risk factor for obesity. In short, less intelligent individuals pay less attention to what they eat, how much they eat, and staying fit, thus having a higher likelihood of becoming obese.

The study was conducted in Sweden, involving 5286 people, measuring BMI and IQ at ages 18 and 40. The results clearly show that individuals with a low IQ at 18 have a much higher BMI at 40. A similar study was conducted in New Zealand, analyzing 913 participants, measuring IQ and BMI at ages 3, 7, 9, 11, and 38. The results are very similar.

So, if I’m intelligent, should I not worry about becoming stupid if I eat poorly? Not exactly… The scientific community still agrees that foods rich in fats and highly processed foods can slow down brain performance simply because heavy digestion takes blood and energy away from the brain.

Eating improperly dramatically increases the chances of suffering from neurodegenerative diseases that can affect logical, mnemonic, and language abilities.

A diet based on fruits and vegetables is ideal for keeping the brain healthy and young even in old age and for keeping the most important of abilities active, neuronal plasticity, which allows us to learn easily even when old.