The Checkup: Obesity May Hurt Brain Power, Study Says

Middle-aged people who are obese show faster mental decline than slimmer peers, according to a study out this week.


• Oh, dear. The list of problems associated with obesity just keeps getting longer. Add this: memory problems. A new French study found that obese middle-aged people suffer faster mental decline than peers who aren’t obese. And those with obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, face an even faster decline in brain function—22.5 percent faster, to be exact. The findings are the result of a 10-year study that followed over 6,400 people. The results fly in the face of the notion that one can be obese and still healthy. The study authors say obesity clearly takes an extra toll on the brain as you age—whether you realize it’s happening or not. U.S. News has more.

Sexually-active women have semen on the brain. Like, literally.

• I knew it! Some people have blood that really is sweeter. That explains how I have 8,000 mosquito bites and my husband has zero. NY Mag has more.