Lower levels of balance recovery and increased risk of falls: In her thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, entitled ''A modeling investigation of obesity and balance recovery'', Sara Louise Matrangola writes in the abstract: "Obesity is associated with an increased risk of falls and subsequent injury. Previous studies have shown weight loss and strength training to be beneficial to balance, but knowing which is more beneficial will allow researchers to design interventions to maximize the benefits in terms of balance and reducing risk of falls."<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07162008-101646/unrestricted/matrangola_thesis_etd.pdf Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, entitled ''A modeling investigation of obesity and balance recovery''by Sara Louise Matrangola]</ref>
=== Obesity and Alzheimers disease ===
''See also:'' [[Obesity and Alzheimer's disease]]
[[File:PET Alzheimer.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|A PET scan of the brain of an individual with Alzheimer's disease reveals a loss of function in the temporal lobe.]]
In 2005, WebMD published:
{{cquote|People with diabetes are at particularly high risk of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. But now there's strong evidence that people with high insulin levels -- long before they get diabetes -- already are on the road to Alzheimer's disease.
As the body becomes more and more overweight, it becomes more and more resistant to the blood-sugar-lowering effects of insulin. To counter this insulin resistance, the body keeps making more insulin...
'''Insulin Triggers Amyloid Buildup'''
High insulin levels are known to cause blood vessels to become inflamed....
One dangerous effect of this insulin-caused brain inflammation is increased brain levels of beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid is the twisted protein that's the main ingredient in the sticky plaques that clog the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
"What was striking was the magnitude of the effect," Craft tells WebMD. "Inflammation can be a result of amyloid elevations but can also create an environment in which amyloid is made more readily. Inflammation can be both the result and cause of amyloid production."<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/20061101/obesity-alzheimers-risk Obesity and Alzheimer's: High Insulin Levels Linked to Alzheimer's]</ref>}}
A 2009 health report on a medical study indicated:
{{cquote|They compared the brain scan of 94 people in their 70s who were obese & overweight. They found that the obese had lost tissue in the frontal & temporal lobes areas critical for planning & memory. Declines were also seen in areas used for attention & executive functions, long term memory & movement
A neurologist Professor Paul Thompson said, “That's a big loss of tissue and it depletes your cognitive reserves, putting you at much greater risk of Alzheimer's and other diseases that attack the brain. But you can greatly reduce your risk for Alzheimer's if you can eat healthily and keep your weight under control.”M<ref>[http://thehealthage.blogspot.com/2009/08/obese-people-are-more-at-risk-to.html Obese people are more at risk of Alzheimer’s]</ref>}}
=== Health effects of Alzheimer's disease ===