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Towards a better understanding of the negative relationship between adiposity and cognitive health in prepubertal children
Author(s) -
Raine Lauren B,
Khan Naiman A,
Drollette Eric S,
Scudder Mark R,
Cohen Neal J,
Kramer Arthur F,
Hillman Charles H
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.852.5
Subject(s) - cognition , working memory , psychology , developmental psychology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , medicine , psychiatry
The relation of weight status to cognitive performance in children remains controversial. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature regarding the influence of fat distribution on measures of cognitive control. Accordingly, this study determined relationships between weight status, fat distribution, and cognitive function in 55 prepubertal children (8–9 years). Participants completed a cognitive battery assessing attention, working memory, writing, and arithmetic. DXA was used to measure percent fat mass (%Fat) and abdominal adiposity (FM‐abd). Initial correlation analyses suggested that BMI was negatively related to attention, written language, and overall achievement. %FM and FM‐abd were negatively related to written language and attention. However, none of the adiposity variables were related to working memory or arithmetic. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed adjusting for demographic variables (age, sex, SES), IQ, and aerobic fitness (VO2max). Following adjustment, BMI was negatively related to overall academic achievement and the negative effect of FM‐abd on written language persisted. Our findings suggest that weight status negatively impacts academic achievement, but not working memory. The influence of fat distribution appears specific to written language but not mathematics. (Funding source: NIH HD069381 ) Grant Funding Source : NIH HD069381