US EditionObesity associated with anxiety and cognitive impairment in mice
- Desiree Wanders, who leads the nutrition department at Georgia State University, shared results from a 2025 mouse study exploring the connection between obesity and anxiety-like behaviors at the NUTRITION 2025 conference in Orlando.
- The study arose from unclear links between obesity, anxiety, and brain health, with societal factors possibly influencing this association.
- Researchers fed 32 male mice either a low- or high-fat diet from 6 to 21 weeks and found that obese mice showed increased anxiety-like freezing behavior, altered hypothalamic signaling, and distinct gut bacteria.
- Wanders explained that their research indicates obesity may contribute to anxiety-related behaviors, potentially as a result of alterations in brain activity and intestinal health, emphasizing the connection between the microbiome and brain.
- The results suggest public health should prioritize obesity prevention and early intervention, especially in youth, while recognizing the multifactorial nature of obesity and mental health.
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Study suggests obesity contributes to anxiety and cognitive impairment
With rates of obesity and anxiety both on the rise—especially among younger Americans—new research suggests that the two conditions may be connected through interactions between the gut and the brain. The study, conducted in mice, links diet-induced obesity with anxiety-like symptoms, alterations in brain signaling and differences in gut microbes that may contribute to impaired brain functioning.
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