Developments in MRI, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a technique that tracks the brain's signal-carrying white matter along the water of diffusion, have enabled researchers to study this damage directly. "Brain changes have been found in the appetite, emotion and cognitive functions of control for regions associated with obese adolescents," said study co-author Pamela Bertolazzi from the university of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

 

The World health Organization (WTO) data shows that the number of overweight or obese infants and young children increased from 32 million in 1990 to 41 million in 2016 globally. For the study, researchers compared DTI results in 59 obese and 61 healthy adolescents, aged 12-16 years.

 

From DTI, the researchers derived a measure called fractional anisotropy (FA), which correlates with the condition of the brain's white matter. A reduction in fractional anisotropy is an indicator of increased damage in white matter.

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