Whole brain gray matter volume may mediate the relationship between light physical activity and Body Mass Index in middle-aged Japanese adults.

Obesity is a multifactorial condition that cannot be fully explained by traditional energy-balance models. Recent studies highlight the role of brain structure-particularly gray matter volume-as a potential risk factor of obesity. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to enhance gray matter volume, particularly in older adults.

Unhealthy lifestyles and brain condition: Examining the relations of BMI, living alone, alcohol intake, short sleep, smoking, and lack of exercise with gray matter volume.

Unhealthy lifestyles are damaging to the brain. Previous studies have indicated that body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake, short sleep, smoking, and lack of exercise are negatively associated with gray matter volume (GMV). Living alone has also been found to be related to GMV through lowered subjective happiness.

Housing quality and behavior affect brain health and anxiety in healthy Japanese adults.

Countless studies in animals have shown how housing environments and behaviors can significantly affect anxiety and brain health, giving valuable insight as to whether this is applicable in the human context. The relationship between housing, behavior, brain health, and mental wellbeing in humans remains poorly understood. We therefore explored the interaction of housing quality, weekend/holiday sedentary behavior, brain structure, and anxiety in healthy Japanese adults.