Hip Fat Messes With Memory

Fat makes women more forgetful, a new study suggests. Researchers found that carrying extra weight negatively affects memory and that "pear-shaped" women—as opposed to "apple shaped"—are hardest hit. The study of more than 8000 post-menopausal women found that for every one-point increase in a woman's BMI, her memory score dropped by one point, notes the BBC.

Scientists are not sure, yet, why hip fat may be particularly pernicious, although it may be because belly fat produces estrogen, which hedges against cognitive decline. They are clear, however, about the take-home message: "There is little we can do about our natural body shape, but a lot we can do about our weight," one says. In other words, whether you're an apple or pear, hit the gym. Read more about America's obesity epidemic here.

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