Associations between elevated body mass index and cognitive functioning in adolescents

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 18% of adolescents in the United States are obese. Emerging research has shown reduced neurocognitive functioning in adults with high body mass index (BMI) compared to normal-weight individuals, particularly in the areas of executive function and memory. Studies examining children and adolescents have also suggested reduced visual-spatial and executive functioning in those with high BMI; however, results have been somewhat equivocal. Adolescence is a critical period of brain development, such that adolescents with high BMI may show a unique pattern of neurocognitive impairment that differs from other stages of life. This study examined neurocognitive performance in obese (n = 31, BMI above 95th percentile) versus normal-weight adolescents (n = 31, BMI between 30th and 70th percentiles) on a brief battery of neuropsychological tasks, including tests of executive functioning (Delis-Kaplan Color-Word Inhibition and Switching tasks, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task), speed of processing (Delis-Kaplan Color-Word Naming and Reading tasks), verbal memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), and estimated intelligence (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, 2-subscale). Independent samples t-tests confirmed no group differences in age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Multivariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between groups on this battery (Wilks’ λ = .65, F 8,62 = 3.55, p < .05, partial η2 = 0.35). A significant univariate main effect for verbal memory was found (F 1,62 = 10.15, p < .006, partial η2 = 0.15). No other significant univariate main effects were observed. These results suggest obesity may be related to decreased verbal memory retrieval in adolescents. It is possible that obesity may impact frontal regions necessary for efficient memory retrieval – a finding not present until this critical stage of development. Degree Type Dissertation Rights Terms of use for work posted in CommonKnowledge. Comments Library Use: LIH This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/1138 Copyright and terms of use If you have downloaded this document directly from the web or from CommonKnowledge, see the “Rights” section on the previous page for the terms of use. If you have received this document through an interlibrary loan/document delivery service, the following terms of use apply: Copyright in this work is held by the author(s). You may download or print any portion of this document for personal use only, or for any use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.). Except for personal or fair use, you or your borrowing library may not reproduce, remix, republish, post, transmit, or distribute this document, or any portion thereof, without the permission of the copyright owner. [Note: If this document is licensed under a Creative Commons license (see “Rights” on the previous page) which allows broader usage rights, your use is governed by the terms of that license. ] Inquiries regarding further use of these materials should be addressed to: CommonKnowledge Rights, Pacific University Library, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, (503) 352-7209. Email inquiries may be directed to:. copyright@pacificu.edu This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/1138 ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ELEVATED BODY MASS INDEX AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN ADOLESCENTS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY PACIFIC UNIVERSITY HILLSBORO, OREGON BY KIMBERLY N. PAINTER, M.S. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY JULY 17, 2014 APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE: Susan Tinsley Li, PhD Bonnie J. Nagel, PhD DEAN OF SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Christiane Brems, PhD, ABPP BMI AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN ADOLESCENTS ii Table of