I'm Screwed

Beer bellies may double the risk of dementia

Bad news for those with bulging bellies: fat that builds up around the waist during middle age may cause dementia decades later, say researchers who examined the health records of thousands of senior citizens.

Scientists already know that overweight adults risk developing diabetes, heart problems and other medical conditions. But over the last few years researchers have noticed that obesity in middle age is linked with cognitive problems in the aged.

Now it seems that overall body mass is not so important – it's the fat around the belly that appears to cause the problems.

Epidemiologist Rachel Whitmer and colleagues looked at the medical records of 6583 adults registered with the healthcare firm she works for – Kaiser Permanente of Oakland, California.

During the 1960s and 1970s, records were taken of the diameters of the adults' bellies, which gave Whitmer a rough idea of how much fat they were carrying around the waist.

Welp, it's just one thing after another. Technically, mine isn't a beer belly. It's more of a mashed tater with gravy and ice cream belly. But, as the article says, it's the excess fat around the belly that does ya in.

I was going to do something, but I forgot what it was. Hhrrmm.

H/T Ace of Spades