Changes in Subcortical Structure Volumes Associated With Obesity

Background Obesity has been increasingly linked to structural alterations in the brain, particularly involving subcortical gray matter regions. This study aimed to investigate whether obesity is associated with measurable volumetric changes in key subcortical structures relative to normal-weight individuals. Methodology In this cross-sectional observational study, 46 healthy volunteers (25.07 ± 5.82 years old) were initially recruited, of whom 38 normal-weight men and eight obese men (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m²) were included. High-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired and analyzed using both FreeSurfer's automated segmentation and manual segmentation via ITK-SNAP. Statistical comparisons were performed to determine volumetric differences between groups. Results Automated segmentation results revealed significantly larger gray matter volumes in the right amygdala and left thalamus among obese individuals, with near-significant increases observed in the bilateral hippocampus and putamen. Manual segmentation demonstrated significant enlargement of the amygdala and caudate in obese participants. Conclusions Collectively, these findings indicate that obesity is associated with subtle but consistent volumetric expansion in several subcortical regions. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these structural differences and their potential cognitive and behavioral implications.