Teen Brains and Food

Chad Jensen, BYU Psychology Professor  More than a third of American children and adolescents are overweight or obese. The CDC says the primary reason is “caloric imbalance”: kids are consuming more calories than they burn. That seems fairly obvious, but the solutions aren’t as simple. New research out of BYU’s MRI laboratory suggests that teenagers can train their brains to choose healthier food options.  “Our results suggest that physical activity is a key part. Even if one is in the overweight or obese category, physical activity is reliable. The study kind of underscores the importance of physical activity,” says Jensen.