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 .
Depressive symptoms and poorer performance on the Stroop Task are associated with weight gain
OBJECTIVE Executive function impairments and depression are associated with obesity but whether they predict weight gain is unclear . METHODS Forty-six individuals ( 35 m , 37±10y ) completed the  Stroop Task , Iowa Gambling Task ( IGT ) , Wisconsin Card Sorting Task ( WCST ) , Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology ( IDS-SR ) , Physical Anhedonia Scale ( PAS ) , and Perceived Stress Scale ( PSS  ) . Body composition ( DXA ) and fasting glucose were also measured . Data from return visits were used to assess changes in weight . RESULTS Poorer Stroop and WCST performance associated with higher BMI whereas poorer IGT and WCST performance associated with higher body fat ( % ; all p's≤0.05 ) . Stroop interference ( p=0.04 ; p=0.05 ) and IDS-SR ( p=0.06 ; p=0.02 ) associated with increased BMI and weight gain ( % /yr ) . In a multivariate linear model Stroop interference ( β=0.40 , p<0.01 ; β=0.35 , p<0.01 ) and IDS-SR ( β=0.38 , p<0.01 ; β=0.37 , p<0.01 ) independently predicted increased BMI and weight gain ( % /yr ) even after controlling for baseline weight and glucose levels . CONCLUSIONS Poorer response inhibition and depressive symptoms , but not glucose levels , predicted weight gain . Evaluating neurocognitive and mood deficits could improve current treatment strategies for weight loss . Clinical Trial Registration Numbers NCT00523627 , NCT00342732 , NCT01224704 . clinical trials.gov
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 .