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Brain size, body size and longevity

Abstract

In this analysis, we bring together two research fields that have never been associated before: the clinical issue ‘Quételet's body-mass index and longevity’ and the comparative biological issue ‘body–brain allometry’. Comparison of medical and biological data supports the view that body mass index is just a one-to-one mapping of the body–brain–energy balance—a biological variable indicating that an individual maintains its systemic energy homeostasis and therefore is likely to perform well in the coming years.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG Mü 714/8-3 and Clinical Research Group KFO-126).

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Correspondence to A Peters.

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Peters, A., Hitze, B., Langemann, D. et al. Brain size, body size and longevity. Int J Obes 34, 1349–1352 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.65

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