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Adverse effects of consuming high fat-sugar diets on cognition: Implications for understanding obesity
Based on the evidence that those overweight and obese perform worse in terms of cognitive ability, which has been shown to play a role in short-term decision making in eating, this 2017 review investigated the association between obesity and poorer cognitive function, and the responsibility that may lie with overconsumption of the Western-style high fat (HF) high sugar diets. Past animal and human studies have shown repeated HF or HF and sugar (HFS) diets lead to impairment in hippocampal function, which Yeomans links to the vicious cycle model (VCM), specifically referring to the association between hippocampal function and impaired appetite control, and the resulting knock-on negative effects on subsequent appetite control. There is consistent evidence in animal studies supporting the VCM model, while evidence from human studies is increasing but needs backing up with further research specifically on the precise nature of how HFS diets exert effects on cognition. [NPID: cognition, obesity, overweight, decision making, Western-style diet, high far high sugar, HFHS, hippocampus, hippocampal function, appetite control]
Year: 2017
