Remember Santa in his red attire, white hair and big belly? Those are one of the characters that may seem cute, and sometimes having a big belly in adults may seem normal, but studies have showed it can relate to many of disease we run from.

One of the factors that can relate to big bellies is high cholesterol. Obviously this means heart attack, stroke and many more related diseases are not so distant anymore.

Some studies also have shown a big relation between bellies and dementia or Alzheimer’s. In an article, “Big Belly in Middle Age Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia”:

“In a new study, US researchers confirmed the known link between obesity and lower total brain volume and also found that abdominal fat in otherwise healthy middle aged people is associated with lower total brain volume, suggesting a greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s later on in life.”

(Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189302.php)

This has to do with the total brain volume which relates to memory and brain functions. There are about 24 million people here in the world living with dementia. Not to mention 4.6 new cases every year, and that was 2005 data from the World Health Organization!

Keeping a healthy lifestyle has its perks after all. If we want to see and remember our grand children, even our own children, I guess it is still best to avoid having a big belly and more of that health lifestyle.