Childhood obesity linked to below normal I.Q.

Children who are very obese by age four have a higher likelihood of having lower I.Q. scores, a new study shows.

Daniel J. Driscoll, M.D., Ph.D, says the study indicates "a sense of urgency to really address the obesity problem — the younger the better.

"It’s right to worry about heart disease in 20-30 years, or hypertension in 20 years, and diabetes in 10 years," Driscoll says. "But there could be consequences now."

Driscoll’s team studied 18 people who had been morbidly obese (more than 150% of the ideal weight for their height) by age four.

"We’re not talking about a little baby fat," Driscoll says. "We’re talking about a very select group."

Those who were obese at age four had an average IQ of 77, which classifies them by the "archaic" method as "moron." Tests of their siblings who were not obese at age four showed an average IQ of 106. A score of 100 is average.

Read more about the study.

Medicine | Health | Alternative Health News | Obesity | Children | IQ | HerbBlurbs.com | AltHealthNews.com