At this point, the evidence is pretty incontrovertible. Obesity is a public health epidemic in the United States, and, according to a new report in the New England Journal of Medicine, predictions are that by 2030, ½ of all American adults will be obese and nearly ¼ will be categorized as “severely” obese (having a Body Mass Index of 40 and above). From everything we know, that spells disaster- leading to sicker adults, burdened by increased levels of disease and shorter lives. And now we also know that obesity can even affect your intelligence and risk for dementia.

A new study out of Iowa State University and published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, reports that excess body weight, especially belly fat, seems to negatively influence your brain’s ability to think and react quickly to new circumstances, something known as “fluid intelligence.” Moreover, another recent study out of the University of Oxford in England found that midlife obesity among women raises their risk of dementia. Given our understanding that obesity is directly linked to a heightened risk of cerebrovascular diseases (which are known risk-elevators for later-in-life dementia), this makes perfect sense.

And what else makes sense? Doing all you can to ward off obesity before it takes hold or to fight the good fight to reduce your weight if it’s already an issue. Recent scientific work addressing obesity has once again shined a light on the concept of Time-Restricted Eating (also known as Intermittent Fasting) as a way to reduce obesity levels. Researchers from the University of California recently published their findings that restricting your eating time to a 10-hour window each day can prevent or even reverse metabolic diseases and obesity, thereby improving the health of millions of Americans who suffer from these afflictions, and potentially even saving them from the additional ravages of dementia. To find out more, close your kitchen for the evening and read here. Or listen to this NPR report on the new study here.

As well, additional research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that there may be other benefits to intermittent fasting beyond weight loss, including the regulation of blood sugars, improved body resistance to stress and suppressing inflammation in the body. This new research suggests an even more extreme version of restricted eating, to include only a 6-8 hour eating window per day, or even regular meals five days a week but just one moderate-sized meal 2 days a week. Up for the challenge? Pull out your skinny jeans and find out more here.