Subcutaneous fat is typically not associated with insulin resistance,” Isaacson said. “The higher the visceral fat level, however, the more a person has insulin resistance that causes inflammation in the body and the brain.” When you eat more calories and gain weight, your body may respond by reducing your appetite and boosting your metabolism. This may be largely mediated by your brain, as well as weight-regulating hormones like leptin ( 43). Prosecutors alleged Steenkamp, then aged 29, was killed while hiding in the toilet after a heated row. The high-profile case also highlighted that the country’s epidemic of murder, and in particular its high levels of violence against women, did not just affect townships, says Lisa Vetten, of the Gender Violence and Urban Transformation Project at the University of Johannesburg.

One study found that clinically underweight individuals have nearly two times the risk of death compared to individuals with obesity, suggesting that being underweight may be worse for your health than having obesity ( 11). Consuming soda, donuts, and other junk foods may help you gain weight initially, but it can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer ( 1, 2, 3).One study found that protein supplementation during resistance training for six weeks increased lean mass growth by 27% in healthy adults ( 40). The decision marks a new chapter in a case that continues to enthral South Africa and the world beyond, and generated one of the trials of the century. The amputee ‘blade runner’, who won six Paralympic gold medals and reached the semi-finals of the 200-metre sprint at the 2012 London Olympics, was told he could walk free after serving nine years for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013. A high percentage of body fat also increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and other health problems, even if you are not overweight ( 6, 7). Thyroid problems: An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can boost metabolism and cause unhealthy weight loss ( 21).

Close-up view of a bowl of fresh green salad with mozzarella, mixed nuts and dry fruits. A woman's hand was pouring olive oil into the salad. wenyi liu/Moment RF/Getty Images We’ve known for a while that as the belly size gets larger, the memory centers in the brain get smaller,” said Alzheimer’s disease researcher Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Florida. The most important thing you can do to gain weight is to create a calorie surplus, meaning you eat more calories than your body needs.

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You may want to avoid eating plans such as intermittent fasting. This eating plan can be useful for weight loss and other benefits but can make it much harder to eat enough calories to gain weight ( 33). In people at higher risk, getting hearing aids may help prevent dementia, the study showed. bymuratdeniz/E+/Getty Images To gain weight, you need to eat more calories than your body burns. Aim for 300–500 calories per day above your maintenance level for slow weight gain or 700–1,000 calories if you want to gain weight fast. Increase your protein intake When we think of fat, most of us think of subcutaneous fat, the type you can pinch under your skin or along your waistline. Subcutaneous fat typically makes up 90% of the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. High protein foods include meats, fish, eggs, some dairy products, legumes, nuts, and others. Protein supplements like whey protein can also be useful it is difficult for you to get enough protein in your diet.

Also, try to emphasize energy-dense foods as much as possible. These are foods that contain many calories relative to their weight.Other energy-dense foods: dark chocolate, avocados, peanut butter, coconut milk, granola, and trail mix If you’re underweight, you may want to make an appointment with a doctor to rule out any serious medical conditions. To gain weight, eat at least three meals per day and make sure to include plenty of fat, carbs, and protein. Increase your intake of energy-dense foods

Expensive full-body MRIs and body scans are the most precise way to measure visceral fat, but many use estimates based on waist circumference or waist size in proportion to height. To measure your waist, the Cleveland Clinic recommends wrapping a flexible tape measure around the waist just above the hips.By consuming 500 additional calories a day, a person might gain an average of about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) over 6 months ( 42). It can be very difficult for some people to gain weight, and the amount of time it takes to gain weight will be different for everyone. It may be a good idea to avoid over-consuming vegetables and fruit if gaining weight is a priority for you. The fiber in fruits and vegetables can lead you to feeling full faster. This can leave less room for energy-dense foods. Talk with a doctor to see if increasing your protein intake would help you achieve your goal to gain weight safely. Summary So, we’re really pushing the envelope of how early we can detect some of the kind of subtlest manifestations of abnormalities that can be related to Alzheimer’s pathology,” Raji added. “By identifying this pathological link to visceral fat, there are ways we can potentially intervene in this population.”