scholarly journals Association Between Weight Status and Executive Function in Young Adults

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Narimani ◽  
Samad Esmaeilzadeh ◽  
Liane B. Azevedo ◽  
Akbar Moradi ◽  
Behrouz Heidari ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: To explore the association between weight status and executive function in young adults. Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven young males (age 17–26 years) underwent adiposity and body composition measurements using body composition analyzer. Inhibitory control and working memory were measured using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB). Results: Multiple linear regression using both unadjusted and adjusted analyses revealed no association between adiposity and body composition variables with executive tasks, apart from a significant association between skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and mean reaction time on go trial (standardized B = -0.28; p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that underweight participants presented inferior working memory compared to their normal weight (p = 0.001) or overweight peers (p = 0.008). However, according to the percentage fat quartiles (Q) participants with the highest quartile (Q4) were inferior in inhibitory control than their peers with Q2 (p = 0.04), and participants with the lowest quartile (Q1) were inferior in working memory compared with their peers with Q2 (p = 0.01) or Q3 (p = 0.02). A worse inhibitory control was observed for participants with the highest fat/SMM (Q4) compared to participants in Q3 (p = 0.03), and in contrast worse working memory was observed for participants with the lowest fat/SMM (Q1) compared to participants in Q2 (p = 0.04) or Q3 (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Low adiposity is associated with worse working memory, whereas high adiposity is associated with worse inhibitory control. Therefore, our findings show that normal adiposity, but greater SMM may have a positive impact on executive function in young adults.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1047-1055
Author(s):  
Misbah Abdul Haris Nasution Alhanif ◽  
Purwo Sri Rejeki ◽  
Lilik Herawati

The Audio and Visual Whole Body Reaction (WBR) motor function test uses the THP-15 tool, the balance test uses the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), while the Working Memory (WM) executive function test uses the Forward Digit Span Task and the Inhibitory Control (IC) test using the Animal Stroop Task. The data analysis technique used the Pearson Chi-Square test with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results obtained the mean of the visual Whole Body Reaction (WBR) motor function in the EO (0.55±0.21) and EBO (0.52±0.25) groups (p=0.558). The mean WBR Audio in the EO (0.73±0.24) and EBO (0.70±0.29) groups (p=0.918). The average balance in the EO group (1.65±0.54) and EBO (1.58±0.48) (p=0.297). Executive function of Working Memory (WM) in the EO (5.00±0.74) and EBO (5.19±0.74) groups (p=0.636). The mean inhibitory control (IC) in the EO group (4.61±2.09) and the EBO group (3.88±2.86) (p=0.048


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 755
Author(s):  
Falonn Contreras-Osorio ◽  
Christian Campos-Jara ◽  
Cristian Martínez-Salazar ◽  
Luis Chirosa-Ríos ◽  
Darío Martínez-García

One of the most studied aspects of children’s cognitive development is that of the development of the executive function, and research has shown that physical activity has been demonstrated as a key factor in its enhancement. This meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of specific sports interventions on the executive function of children and teenagers. A systematic review was carried out on 1 November 2020 to search for published scientific evidence that analysed different sports programs that possibly affected executive function in students. Longitudinal studies, which assessed the effects of sports interventions on subjects between 6 and 18 years old, were identified through a systematic search of the four principal electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO. A total of eight studies, with 424 subjects overall, met the inclusion criteria and were classified based on one or more of the following categories: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. The random-effects model for meta-analyses was performed with RevMan version 5.3 to facilitate the analysis of the studies. Large effect sizes were found in all categories: working memory (ES −1.25; 95% CI −1.70; −0.79; p < 0.0001); inhibitory control (ES −1.30; 95% CI −1.98; −0.63; p < 0.00001); and cognitive flexibility (ES −1.52; 95% CI −2.20; −0.83; p < 0.00001). Our analysis concluded that healthy children and teenagers should be encouraged to practice sports in order to improve their executive function at every stage of their development.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2329
Author(s):  
Christine Bergman ◽  
Yuan Tian ◽  
Andrew Moreo ◽  
Carola Raab

The obesity pandemic is associated with increased consumption of restaurant food. Labeling of menus is an intervention used to provide consumers with kilocalorie (calorie) information in hopes of them making healthier food choices. This study evaluated the relationship between young adults’ calorie choices on restaurant menus and menu design, dietary behaviors, and demographic characteristics. A 3 (fast-casual restaurants) × 4 (menu-designs based on menu engineering theories) between-subjects (n = 480, 18–24-year olds) experimental design was used. The relationship between the participants’ calorie choices (high versus low) and menu design, stage of change, gender, race, educational level and weight status was evaluated using logistic regression. All independent variables had at least one category that had greater odds (CI 95% ± 5%) of subjects choosing a lower calorie entree, except education level and race/ethnic group. Normal weight and overweight subjects had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees than those that were obese. In addition, subjects that had started to control their calorie intake for less than six months or had sustained this change for at least six months, had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees compared to others. Including a green symbol and calories on fast casual restaurant menus may influence some young adults to choose lower calorie entrees.


Author(s):  
H. J. Madhushanthi ◽  
Savithri W. Wimalasekera ◽  
C. Sampatha E. Goonewardena ◽  
A. A. Thamara D. Amarasekara ◽  
Janaka Lenora

Abstract Objective Previous studies have shown that high socioeconomic status (SES) is significantly associated with inhibitory control, working memory, verbal comprehension and IQ. However, in the Asian setting, with its prevailing poverty, information about the influence of SES on cognitive development of female adolescents is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the association between SES and neurocognitive performance of early female adolescents in Sri Lanka. Methods Female adolescents aged 11–14 years (n = 200) of low and middle SES were studied to assess neurocognitive function. After obtaining baseline data, eight subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC – IV), Test Of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI-3) and two computer-based executive function tests (inhibition and visuo-spatial working memory) were administered to assess neurocognitive measures of the above adolescents. The results were compiled into a data base and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. Results Higher SES was associated with higher performance in all neurocognitive tests. Low SES adolescents obtained significantly poor test scores for executive function test (inhibitory control: p < 0.0001) and for WISC [verbal comprehension index (VCI): p < 0.0001), working memory index (WMI): p < 0.0001 and estimated full scale IQ (EFSIQ): p < 0.0001)] when compared with middle SES adolescents. Maternal education alone significantly predicts VCI and EFSIQ than the combined influence of parental education, occupation and income. Psychosocial adversities of adolescents were inversely correlated with VCI (r = −0.30; p < 0.001) and EFSIQ (r = −0.20; p < 0.001) of WISC and mathematics performance (r = −0.34; p < 0.001) at examination in school. Conclusion Findings of the study revealed the importance of upliftment of SES of the society to improve the cognitive and academic outcomes of low SES individuals.


Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Jones ◽  
Jacob L Barber ◽  
James S Skinner ◽  
Claude Bouchard ◽  
Mark A Sarzynski

Background: Body composition is known to differ across metabolic health and weight phenotypes. Regular exercise improves body composition, yet little is known about differences in exercise response across metabolic health and weight phenotypes. Methods: Normal weight (n=376) and overweight/obese (OWOB) adults (n=456) from the HERITAGE Family Study (56% female, 38% Black) completed a 20-week endurance training program. Four groups based on baseline BMI and metabolic risk were created: metabolically healthy normal weight, MHNW; metabolically unhealthy normal weight, MUNW; metabolically healthy OWOB, MHO; and metabolically unhealthy OWOB, MUO. Unhealthy was defined as having ≥2 metabolic syndrome components. General linear models tested for differences in baseline and change in measures of body composition (fat mass [FM], fat-free mass [FFM], % body fat [%BF], visceral fat) after adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity (and baseline value in change models). Results: Table 1 shows adjusted mean baseline and change in body composition values by group. Baseline body composition tended to track with weight status, with NW adults having lower FM, %BF, and visceral fat compared to obese adults (p<0.05), regardless of metabolic health. However, the MHO group had lower baseline values of these traits compared to MUO (p<0.05). Body composition measures significantly improved with exercise training in all groups, however, the magnitude of change differed between groups. For example, both NW groups had larger decreases in %BF compared to the obese groups, with MUNW showing the largest decrease. Conversely, MHNW showed the largest decrease in visceral fat, which was greater than both obese groups, but change in visceral fat was similar between MHO and MUNW. Conclusions: Normal weight adults tended to have better body composition profiles at baseline and larger improvements with exercise compared to obese adults, regardless of metabolic health. Within weight groups, body composition improved regardless of metabolic health status.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Amaro-Gahete ◽  
Guillermo Sanchez-Delgado ◽  
Juan Alcantara ◽  
Borja Martinez-Tellez ◽  
Victoria Muñoz-Hernandez ◽  
...  

Having valid and reliable resting energy expenditure (REE) estimations is crucial to establish reachable goals for dietary and exercise interventions. However, most of the REE predictive equations were developed some time ago and, as the body composition of the current population has changed, it is highly relevant to assess the validity of REE predictive equations in contemporary young adults. In addition, little is known about the role of sex and weight status on the validity of these predictive equations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of sex and weight status in congruent validity of REE predictive equations in young adults. A total of 132 young healthy adults (67.4% women, 18–26 years old) participated in the study. We measured REE by indirect calorimetry strictly following the standard procedures, and we compared it to 45 predictive equations. The most accurate equations were the following: (i) the Schofield and the “Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization/United Nations” (FAO/WHO/UNU) equations in normal weight men; (ii) the Mifflin and FAO/WHO/UNU equations in normal weight women; (iii) the Livingston and Korth equations in overweight men; (iv) the Johnstone and Frankenfield equations in overweight women; (v) the Owen and Bernstein equations in obese men; and (vi) the Owen equation in obese women. In conclusion, the results of this study show that the best equation to estimate REE depends on sex and weight status in young healthy adults.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 506-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Elisabeth Sølsnes ◽  
Jon Skranes ◽  
Ann-Mari Brubakk ◽  
Gro C.C. Løhaugen

AbstractExecutive functions are goal-directed control mechanisms that modulate the operation of other cognitive processes. Preterm born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW: birth weight<1500 grams) children have more problems with attention/executive function than their term born peers. The objective of this study is to examine if VLBW young adults had more self-reported attention/ executive problems and lower neuropsychological test results than controls. Furthermore, to investigate the relationship between self-reported attention/executive problems, general cognitive ability (IQ) and test results. Forty-two VLBW [mean birth weight 1237 (219) grams, and gestational age 29.3 (2.4) weeks] and 63 term born controls at age 19 years completed The BRIEF-A self-report of attention/executive functions in everyday life. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III was used to obtain IQ scores; subtests from Delis-Kaplan were used to assess attention/executive function. There were no differences between the VLBW young adults and controls on any of the BRIEF-A measures, but the VLBW subjects had lower scores on 8 of the 18 neuropsychological subtests (p<.01). Some correlations between BRIEF-A and the Stroop and TMT tests were found in the VLBW group. VLBW young adults do not report more problems regarding attention/executive function in daily life than controls despite lower results on several neuropsychological tests. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–10)


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Margaret Hill

During the school-age years, children learn most new word meanings from context rather than through deliberate vocabulary instruction. However, the actual process of word learning from context among schoolage children remains poorly understood. Prior research suggests that language ability and higher-order executive function skills such as working memory and inhibitory control of attention may aid children in acquiring new word meanings from context, but studies have not examined the effect of cognitive flexibility on word learning. In addition, although research has shown that children from families of low socioeconomic status (SES) often lag behind their peers from higher-SES backgrounds in vocabulary, there is no evidence to suggest that SES directly influences the word learning process itself. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of language ability, SES, and executive function on word learning from context among typically developing children. Fifty children of ages nine to 11 years completed a standardized measure of language ability and tasks of working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility along with a pretest to assess their understanding of 12 rare target words. Approximately one week later, the children read along with two short stories containing the target words while listening as the stories were narrated aloud by a computer. Posttest results showed that as a group, children made small but significant gains in knowledge of target word meanings from the stories. Analyses showed that both language ability and cognitive flexibility were related to gains in word knowledge, and that children tended to rely more on the stronger of these two skills if either language or cognitive flexibility was relatively weak. Children's SES backgrounds were not directly related to word knowledge gains, but results suggested that SES may influence the word learning process indirectly through an effect on children's cognitive flexibility.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Motl ◽  
Deirdre Dlugonski ◽  
Lara A. Pilutti ◽  
Rachel E. Klaren

Background: Behavioral interventions have significantly increased physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, there has been interindividual variability in the pattern and magnitude of change. This study documented the efficacy and variability of a behavioral intervention for changing physical activity and examined the possibility that efficacy varied by the characteristics of individuals with MS. Methods: Eighty-two people with MS were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: behavioral intervention (n = 41) or waitlist control (n = 41). We collected information before the study on MS type, disability status, weight status based on body-mass index, and current medications. Furthermore, all participants completed the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and the abbreviated International Physical Activity Questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for 1 week to measure minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity before and after the 6-month intervention period. Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that participants in the behavioral intervention had significantly higher levels of physical activity than control participants after the 6-month period (P &lt; .001). There was substantial interindividual variability in the magnitude of change, and ANCOVA indicated that MS type (relapsing vs. progressive) (P &lt; .01), disability status (mild vs. moderate) (P &lt; .01), and weight status (normal weight vs. overweight/obese) (P &lt; .05) moderated the efficacy of the behavioral intervention. Conclusions: The behavioral intervention was associated with improvements in physical activity, particularly for those with mild disability, relapsing-remitting MS, or normal weight status.


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