On Alzheimer's, Our Bodies, and Our Health
Last week, a report from the University of California – San Francisco and the University of California - Los Angeles highlighted risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Report co-author Deborah Barnes said, "Today, the top three risk factors [associated with Alzheimer's and dementia] are midlife obesity, physical inactivity, and low education …. This is important because it suggests that the growing number of people who are obese in the U.S. could have a major long-term impact on dementia rates."
Note: the study included 171,161 people, 21.1% were 65 and older.
Separately, a report by the World Health Organization said,
”Overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the WHO European Region, affecting almost 60% of adults.
“Obesity is associated with many diseases that affect multiple body systems …
"Adverse effects of obesity on health include those that result from the mechanical effects of increased body weight, such as some musculoskeletal complications, metabolic effects such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk, and the effects on mental health.
"Obesity is also considered a cause of at least 13 different types of cancer including cancers of the breast, colorectum, kidney, liver and ovary, multiple myeloma and meningioma.”
The following chart highlights medical conditions associated with obesity.
OUR TAKE
As more research highlights the negative impacts of poor diet, approaches for better health recommend consuming less sugar, salt, and ultra-processed foods, along with regular exercise.
Global obesity has tripled since the 1970s, and addressing the problem will also require new therapeutics, more engagement by healthcare practitioners, and public policy initiatives.
Consumption of ultra-processed/highly processed foods, which should be reduced/avoided includes processed meats; potato chips; breakfast cereals; frozen pizza; margarine; processed cheese, non-handmade pastries; carbonated drinks; artificially sugared beverages; fruit drinks; milkshakes; instant soups and creams; mayonnaise; alcoholic drinks produced by fermentation followed by distillation such as whisky, gin, and rum.
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods provide positive health benefits and include fruits, vegetables, legumes, milk (whole, semi-skimmed, and non-fat), eggs, meats, poultry, fish and seafood, fermented milk as yogurt, grains (white rice, pasta), natural juice, coffee, and water.
Also, foods that cause inflammation should be reduced or avoided – and there is variability among each person in this area.