The results confirmed the presence of a relation between executive functions and overweight/obesity , although the directionality of this relation was not clear ; nor did any single executive function emerge as being more involved than others in this relation .
Despite this , there was evidence of a reciprocal influence between executive functions and overweight/obesity .
Conclusions : This systematic review underlines the presence of a relationship between executive functions and overweight/obesity .
Moreover , it seems to suggest a bidirectional trend in this relationship that could be the cause of the failure of interventions for weight reduction .
Background : The increasing incidence of people affected by overweight or obesity is a significant health problem .
The knowledge of the factors which influences the inappropriate eating behaviors causing excessive body fat is an essential goal for the research .
Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for many health diseases , such as cardiovascular problems , diabetes .
Recently , many studies have focused on the relationship between body weight and cognitive processes .
Objectives : This systematic review is aim ed to investigate the existence and the nature of the relationship between excessive body weight ( overweight/obesity ) and executive functions , analyzing cross-sectional , and longitudinal studies in order to verify the evidence of a possible causality between these variables .
Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE This experiment tested the hypothesis that exercise would improve executive function . DESIGN Sedentary , overweight 7- to 11-year-old children ( N = 171 , 56 % girls , 61 % Black , M ± SD age = 9.3 ± 1.0 years , body mass index [ BMI ] = 26 ± 4.6 kg/m² , BMI z-score = 2.1 ± 0.4 ) were r and omized to 13 ± 1.6 weeks of an exercise program ( 20 or 40 min/day ) , or a control condition . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Blinded , st and ardized psychological evaluations ( Cognitive Assessment System and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III ) assessed cognition and academic achievement .  Functional MRI  measured brain activity during executive function tasks . RESULTS Intent to treat analysis revealed dose-response benefits of exercise  on executive function and mathematics achievement . Preliminary evidence of increased bilateral prefrontal cortex activity and reduced bilateral posterior parietal cortex activity attributable to exercise was also observed . CONCLUSION Consistent with results obtained in older adults , a specific improvement on executive function and brain activation changes attributable to exercise were observed . The cognitive and achievement results add evidence of dose-response and extend experimental evidence into childhood . This study provides information on an educational outcome . Besides its importance for maintaining weight and reducing health risks during a childhood obesity epidemic , physical activity may prove to be a simple , important method of enhancing aspects of children 's mental functioning that are central to cognitive development . This information may persuade educators to implement vigorous physical activity
The results confirmed the presence of a relation between executive functions and overweight/obesity , although the directionality of this relation was not clear ; nor did any single executive function emerge as being more involved than others in this relation .
Despite this , there was evidence of a reciprocal influence between executive functions and overweight/obesity .
Conclusions : This systematic review underlines the presence of a relationship between executive functions and overweight/obesity .
Moreover , it seems to suggest a bidirectional trend in this relationship that could be the cause of the failure of interventions for weight reduction .
Background : The increasing incidence of people affected by overweight or obesity is a significant health problem .
The knowledge of the factors which influences the inappropriate eating behaviors causing excessive body fat is an essential goal for the research .
Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for many health diseases , such as cardiovascular problems , diabetes .
Recently , many studies have focused on the relationship between body weight and cognitive processes .
Objectives : This systematic review is aim ed to investigate the existence and the nature of the relationship between excessive body weight ( overweight/obesity ) and executive functions , analyzing cross-sectional , and longitudinal studies in order to verify the evidence of a possible causality between these variables .