John Gunstad, an Assistant Professor of psychology and lead author of the study, reported that results of the research indicate that weight loss may improve concentration and overall cognitive ability.
He pointed out, "We've known for a long time that obesity is a risk factor for things like Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and more recent work really shows that obesity is a link to memory problems and concentration problems before that even begins."
Gunstad then explained that his research team set out to answer the question, "If excess weight causes these problems, can losing weight help reverse them?"
For their study, the researchers analyzed the memory and attention of a group of 150 obese people having an average weight of 300 pounds.
At the beginning of the study, each member of the group was given mental skills testing for assessment of baseline abilities of recall and attention.
Drucilla Dyess / AFP / DN
