A recent study from Denmark has found that despite a dramatic increase in obesity rates, the established inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and intelligence remains stable. Researchers analyzed two generations of Danish conscripts and discovered that while obesity prevalence has risen across all intelligence levels, individuals with higher cognitive scores still have a lower likelihood of being obese.
Researchers from Denmark analyzed two generations of conscripts and discovered that while obesity rates have significantly increased, the long-standing inverse relationship between body mass index ( BMI ) and intelligence remains stable. This finding challenges the assumptions that cognitive trends may be shifting in tandem with rising obesity prevalence.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, investigated whether the obesity epidemic, marked by a substantial increase in overweight and obesity rates worldwide, has altered the established link between BMI and intelligence. The researchers compared two cohorts of Danish male conscripts: those born between 1939 and 1959 (early cohort) and those born between 1983 and 2001 (late cohort). All males underwent compulsory conscription and underwent cognitive and physical examinations around the age of 18 to 27. The examinations included assessments of weight, height, and intelligence. Intelligence was measured using the Børge Priens Prøve test, a standardized cognitive test that has remained unchanged since 1957.Key findings revealed that while obesity prevalence has increased across all intelligence levels in both cohorts, the inverse relationship between BMI and intelligence remains consistent. The late cohort exhibited a significantly higher obesity rate (6.7%) compared to the early cohort (0.8%). However, the study found that individuals with higher intelligence scores still had a lower probability of obesity in both cohorts. Despite the substantial increase in obesity prevalence over time, the relationship between BMI and intelligence appears to have remained stable. The study's authors suggest that this suggests the inverse relationship between BMI and intelligence was historically more pronounced in a smaller subset of individuals with a particular type of obesity. However, the overall relationship has not significantly changed in recent decades.The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between BMI and intelligence, particularly in the context of the global obesity epidemic. While obesity rates have climbed significantly, the established inverse association between BMI and intelligence appears to hold firm. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship and to investigate potential differences in the association across various populations and socioeconomic groups
OBESITY INTELLIGENCE BMI COHORT STUDY DENMARK OBESITY EPIDEMIC
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