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Scientists have found that people who carry too much weight around their middle have smaller brains.

Researchers from Loughborough University and University College London found that people with a high body mass index (BMI) and high waist-to-hip ratio had brains that were 12 cubic centimetres smaller than people of a healthier weight.

Dr Mark Hamer, professor of exercise as medicine, at Loughbourough, said it was unclear if the differences in brain structure were caused by obesity itself.

However, he concluded that the finding could explain why people who are overweight are more likely

to develop dementia and other

neurodegenerative diseases.

He said: "Existing research has linked brain shrinkage to memory decline and a higher risk of dementia.

"While our study found obesity, especially around the middle, was associated with lower gray matter brain volumes, it's unclear if abnormalities in brain structure lead to obesity or if obesity leads

to these changes in the brain."

A former student is suing his university and its counsellor for $12 million each because he believes they didn't do enough to stop his suicide attempts. The Roanoke Times reports that a lawsuit filed this week by Kionte Burnette accuses Washington and Lee University, and counsellor Rallie Snowden, of negligence.

It says that after Burnette told Snowden he planned to jump off a bridge, the counsellor told him to attend his classes and football practice and then spend the night at the campus health centre.

Snowden followed up several times that day by text and phone, making Burnette promise not to hurt himself.

He did so anyway and attempted suicide twice.

The lawsuit says: "The care and treatment which Snowden provided to Burnette deviated from the applicable standard of care and treatment."

The lawsuit says he should have been escorted to an emergency room for a psychiatric evaluation.

A former Kentucky Fried Chicken worker is suing two Delaware franchises because she says they made it difficult for her to pump breast milk during work. The Wilmington ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É Journal reports Autumn Lampkins' lawsuit accused stores in Camden and Dover of making the task so difficult that her milk supply dried up.

The lawsuit says Lampkin was often unable to pump when needed and was denied privacy.

It says she was hired a few months before giving birth and was able to pump about once during each 10-hour training shift.

The lawsuit read: "This willful, intentional, and unlawful gender-based harassment and discrimination violates the laws and regulations of both the United States ... and the State of Delaware."

"(She) had to resort to giving her son formula sooner than she wanted to since she was unable to pump breastmilk at work."

Authorities say a naked man who led authorities on a chase through Delaware and Pennsylvania has been charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

The ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É Journal of Wilmington reports that Delaware State Police began pursuing a wrong-way driver last Wednesday.

Authorities say Kyle R. Merena fled into Pennsylvania, where police had laid out spike strips to stop him.

The state police say Kyle's car hit the strips and its tires were deflated, and the car finally stopped when it crashed into a trooper's cruiser near the Philadelphia International Airport.

They say the 29-year-old, who was naked, fled the car and was arrested. Kyle was also charged with reckless endangerment among other offences.