Whether you’re at home or out and about, endless tasty food options and the wide availability of quick snacks make it easy to overeat.

If you’re unaware of portion sizes, overeating can easily spiral out of control and lead to various negative health consequences.

One way to get this habit under control is to first understand how overeating affects your body.

Over time, overeating may harm brain function.

Several studies tie continual overeating and obesity to mental decline in older adults, compared with those who do not overeat.

One study in older adults found that being overweight negatively affected memory, compared with normal weight individuals.

That said, more studies are needed to identify the extent and mechanisms of mental decline related to overeating and obesity.

Given that your brain comprises approximately 60% fat, eating healthy fats like avocados, nut butters, fatty fish, and olive oil may help prevent mental decline.

Chronic overeating and obesity are linked to slight cognitive decline with aging, though further research is necessary.