Obesity and Your Brain - The Truth No One’s Talking About
It’s not just your joints or your blood sugar, body fat fuels inflammation that clouds memory, dulls thinking, and drains your willpower.
It’s not just your joints or your blood sugar, body fat fuels inflammation that clouds memory, dulls thinking, and drains your willpower.
You’ve probably heard it before, “All bodies are beautiful.” And I agree. Every person deserves respect, dignity, and love.
But here’s where we need to be honest: true love doesn’t ignore reality.
You can love your body and still want it to feel better… think clearer… move easier. That’s not judgment. That’s self-respect.
And here’s a truth that doesn’t get enough airtime… obesity can damage your brain. Not just your knees. Not just your blood sugar. Your actual brain.
See, extra fat in the body stirs up inflammation. That inflammation can reach your brain tissue, slowing down your thinking, fogging your memory, and affecting your mood. That’s not opinion. That’s science. And ignoring it isn’t kindness, it’s avoidance.
The body positivity movement has done a lot of good. It helped many of us ditch the shame and guilt. But somewhere along the line, we lost the plot. We stopped talking about health.
Being positive about your body doesn't mean you stop caring about what’s happening inside that body.
Especially if you're a parent or grandparent, your health habits ripple out. Kids don’t just inherit our genes, they absorb our behaviors. If we normalize ignoring our health, they might grow up doing the same.
That’s a heavy truth. But it’s not a hopeless one.
Because this isn't about pointing fingers or beating yourself up. It’s about seeing clearly. When you understand how weight affects your brain, how it influences your decisions, your willpower, your emotions.. you’re in a better spot to do something about it.
You can choose to value yourself enough to say, “I want to feel better. I want to think clearer. I want more energy.”
You’re not doing that because your body isn’t good enough. You're doing it because your body, and brain, deserve your best.
Let’s Take Action:
Be kind to yourself today by being honest. Do one thing that supports your brain health. That could be walking after a meal, cutting back on sugar, or turning off screens an hour before bed. Start small. Start smart. Start now.