6 Fascinating Facts About Nervous System Obesity Medical Students Should Be Aware Of

Do you know that obesity is not only linked to a poor lifestyle and unhealthy diet? Usually, novice medical professionals believe that a person will gain unhealthy weight if they are not getting enough sleep and are eating processed foods that are high in calories. 

The latest scientific studies are discovering new and complex relationships between obesity and the nervous system. According to Oxford Academic, obesity may be linked to neurometabolic disturbance, which can affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters. This new understanding makes this whole phenomenon very complex to understand, which is essential for medical students to learn about because it will help them in their professional journey.

This article uncovers six astonishing facts and information about the complicated relationship between the nervous system and obesity. Let’s learn about it to shine in your professional medical journey!

Top 6 Facts About Nervous System Obesity that Medical Students Need to Know

Obesity is the most common disease that has been targeting people around the world for the past several years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that one out of eight people was experiencing obesity in 2022. It is believed that this ratio has increased. Multiple factors, from poor sleep to stress, contribute to this health condition. 

Enabling patients to get rid of it is a real challenge for specialists and medical students because new scientific studies are discovering the link between obesity and the nervous system. Therefore, it has become essential for students to learn how obesity is linked with the nervous system, and how this system will work after these effects. 

However, this process may take several weeks as medical learners must read multiple research papers and discuss the concept with their instructors. It will become nearly impossible when working on their assignments. How can students tackle this problem?

Of course, by contacting UK-based assignment writing services. These platforms can handle your homework, giving you the time and mental space to explore important topics, such as the link between obesity and the nervous system. By using these services, you won’t just secure higher grades; you’ll also lay a strong foundation for a successful career in the medical field.

Let’s make the process simple for you so that you don’t face problems when reading research papers!

1. Obesity and Neurological Disorders

As per PubMed Central, obesity is linked with cognitive impairment in addition to altering hippocampal structure and function. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is responsible for memory and spatial navigation. On one hand, excess body fat causes continuous swelling and insulin resistance. They can both increase the risk of impairing brain functioning. 

The chances of this condition will increase significantly if you develop visceral fat over time. Similarly, brain-related problems can influence you’re eating behaviour and physical activities. For instance, stress can lead to a decrease in appetite and slow metabolism. All these problems can lead to obesity. 

Here are some key points on how these two conditions intersect with each other:

• Inflammation: Fat tissues continuously secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are molecules that are responsible for crossing the blood-brain barrier. As a result, it can trigger neuroinflammation.
• Insulin Resistance: Obesity affects the brain’s ability to regulate hunger and memory. Due to this inability of the brain, it can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Cognitive Impairment: Being overweight or obese can decrease cognitive performance. Obese students or professionals can’t execute functioning, memory, or attention.

Clinical Tip: Medical students must screen obese individuals for the early signs of cognitive dysfunction. You can ask them to lose weight and adopt physical activities to improve their brain health. Your medical guidance will be really helpful for them.

2. Sympathetic Nervous System and Overactivity

The Cleveland Clinic states that the SNS is responsible for its “fight or flight response” to damaging or destructive situations. This system is overactive in obese people. Initially, this system increases energy expenditure; however, its chronic activation becomes harmful over time.

Here is how the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is involved in this process:

• Raised Blood Pressure: SNS overactivity can contribute to high blood pressure, which is a common condition among obese people.
• Fat Metabolism: Normally, the SNS is responsible for fat breakdown, known as lipolysis. However, this process becomes inefficient in obesity due to hormonal resistance.
• Link with Stress: There is a high risk of stress in obese people because they have elevated levels of cortisol. This is a hormone that is responsible for stress and other mental problems. This process creates a vicious cycle of stress and weight gain.

Neuroimaging studies reveal heightened sympathetic nerve activity in individuals who experience obesity. They correlate with increased resting heart rates and poor cardiovascular outcomes. As a medical student or novice professional, you can monitor patients for autonomic imbalance in obese patients. You can ask them to use beta blockers to reduce stress and regular SNS function.

3. Parasympathetic Nervous System and Underactivity

You have previously read that SNS is overactive in obese people. However, the parasympathetic nervous system promotes rest, digestion, and recovery. It shows the signs of underactivity. You need to remember that the imbalance between SNS and PNS leads to autonomic dysfunction. Here are some facts about nervous system obesity and the functioning of the PNS in metabolism:

• Vagus Nerve Activity: The vagus nerve is a key component of the PNS. It is responsible for regulating digestion, satiety, and insulin secretion.
• Heart Rate Variability: If the HRV is reduced in obese people, it suggests diminished parasympathetic tone. This is linked to higher mortality rates.
• Gut-Brain Axis: Poor vagal tone can disrupt gut hormone signalling. It can lead to overeating and metabolic dysfunction.

Researchers have been investigating vagus nerve stimulation as a non-invasive obesity treatment because it can help reduce appetite and improve metabolic rates.

4. Obesity and Neurodegeneration

Medical students must note that obesity is a risk factor for several neurodegenerative diseases. These health conditions can include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: According to the National Institute on Ageing, Alzheimer’s disease is a mental condition that can affect memory over time. This can make it difficult for people to complete daily tasks.
• Vascular dementia: This condition decreases the blood flow to the brain, which can lead to the death of brain cells.
• Parkinson’s disease: It is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually affects the nervous system.

Excess body fat accelerates brain ageing. This link gets stronger as the BMI increases. Below is the detailed mechanism of how all this process works:

• Amyloid Plaques and Tau Proteins: When a person becomes obese, the ability of the mind to clear amyloid protein becomes compromised. As a result, the chances of Alzheimer’s disease increase significantly.
• Oxidative Stress: Obesity also leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. These two health conditions can damage neurons throughout the body.
• Hippocampal Atrophy: The hippocampus is crucial for memory. However, it shrinks in obese people and reduces cognitive reserve.

Several scientific studies indicate that mid-life obesity increases the risk of dementia by up to 80%. As a medical student, it is your responsibility to encourage obese patients to actively take measures. It will empower them to avoid long-term neurological damage. You can opt for lifestyle modifications to enhance neurogenesis and brain plasticity.

5. The Nervous System Changes in Obesity

The nervous system obesity facts are quite appalling. The consequences of obesity can lead to macro and microscopic changes in the brain. Sometimes, there are visible changes in the brain structure of obese people, and a medical specialist can easily detect these changes with the help of an MRI. 

Here is how brain changes are documented by doctors and medical students:

• Reduced Grey Matter Volume: It decreases in the regions of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex. This part is essential for decision-making and impulse control.
• White Matter Lesion: Many obese people have trouble with signal transmission. The reason? They develop lesions that can impair signal transmission and lead to cognitive decline.
• Hypothalamic Inflammation: The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger and energy balance. It becomes inflamed due to high-fat diets.

There are several behavioural implications because of these changes or health conditions. Changes in the prefrontal cortex make it harder for obese people to regulate food intake. It can further complicate the weight loss efforts. Therefore, it becomes essential for doctors and medical learners to treat obesity like a neurobiological condition. You will address inflammation and focus on brain health to ensure holistic obesity management.

6. Leptin Resistance in Obese People

Leptin is a very important hormone in the body. It is produced by fat cells that tell the brain, “You’re full”. In obese people, the brain does not respond to this hormone even when fat cells produce it in abundance. This health condition is medically known as leptin resistance.

Leptin plays several roles in the body. Here is detailed information:

• Regulates Satiety: It is essential in signalling the hypothalamus to suppress appetite.
• Energy Balance: It can significantly affect energy expenditure and fat storage.
• Neurodevelopment: This hormone influences brain development, especially in early childhood.

What goes wrong with it in obesity?

• The brain becomes resistant to leptin.
• Hunger persists despite adequate or excess energy storage.
• Leptin resistance contributes to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.

As a medical student or medical expert, you will provide them with nutritional counselling that should emphasise foods. These foods (low in added sugars and processed fats) will play an important role in reducing leptin resistance.

5 Facts About the Nervous System

Here are five facts about the nervous system that every medical student must know:

1. The human nervous system has two parts: CNS and PNS.
2. The brain contains 86 billion neurons. They send electrical signals throughout the body.
3. The spinal cord is a communication highway between the brain and the body.
4. The autonomic nervous system is essential to regulate involuntary functions, including heartbeat, digestion, and breathing.
5. Neuroplasticity enables the brain to recognise itself by forming new neural connections. They are important for learning and recovery from injuries.

5 Facts About Obesity

1. You will be considered obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.
2. Obesity is a major risk for several life-threatening conditions, such as heart issues, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and stroke.
3. You will not become obese by eating a large number of meals. Overeating is just a factor. In general, obesity is influenced by genetics, hormones, and the environment.
4. Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation that can lead to metabolic and neurological problems.
5. Obesity is responsible for altering hunger hormones, including leptin and ghrelin. It can make the weight loss journey more difficult.

Since obesity is a complex condition, you will design a multidisciplinary approach for your patients. This approach can include diet, behavioural therapy, and medical treatment.

How Does Weight Loss Affect the Nervous System?

The weight loss journey will have several benefits on the nervous system. When you reduce body fat, it will decrease internal and external inflammation. As a result, your brain function will improve, and you will experience lower risks of neurodegenerative diseases.

Additionally, the weight loss journey will enhance insulin sensitivity and improve glucose metabolism in the brain. It is easy for people who lose weight to rebalance hunger hormones between the gut and the brain. Finally, it enhances our mood and decreases anxiety.

Wrapping Up

Medical students always need to focus on learning new concepts and the latest innovations. If they don’t, they will not be able to start a successful professional journey. Obesity and the nervous system are new phenomena that medical students must focus on to learn and develop new strategies for patients. 

In case you have an assignment on the topic of obesity and are now struggling to develop effective strategies for managing obese patients, trustworthy assignment writing platforms in the UK can offer valuable support. These services employ experienced writers who specialise in crafting well-researched assignments for medical students. They gather data from credible sources and present it in a clear, academic format, helping you secure better grades with less stress.

---

This article was written for WHN by Kate Alex, a professional assignment writer with more than ten years of experience. She had a keen passion for writing since childhood and started her academic writing journey after completing her master’s degree. Kate always helps students write and submit well-structured, error-free homework.

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.  

Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of WHN/A4M. Any content provided by guest authors is of their own opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything else. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.