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 .
Improved memory function two years after bariatric surgery.
OBJECTIVE Obesity is as an independent risk factor for poor neurocognitive outcomes , including Alzheimer 's disease .  Bariatric surgery has recently been shown to result in improved memory at 12-weeks postoperatively . However , the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on cognitive function remain unclear . DESIGN AND METHODS Eighty-six individuals ( 63 bariatric surgery patients , 23 obese controls ) were recruited from a prospect i ve study examining the neurocognitive effects of bariatric surgery .  All participants completed  self-report measurements and a computerized cognitive test battery  prior to surgery and at 12-week and 24-month follow-up ; obese controls completed measures at equivalent time points . RESULTS Bariatric surgery patients exhibited high rates of pre-operative cognitive impairments in attention , executive function , memory , and language . Relative to obese controls , repeated measures ANOVA showed improvements in memory from baseline to 12-weeks and 24-months postoperatively ( P < 0.05 ) . Regression analyses controlling for baseline factors revealed that a lower BMI at 24-months demonstrated a trend toward significance for improved memory ( β = -.30 , P = 0.075 ) . CONCLUSION These findings suggest that cognitive benefits of bariatric surgery may extend to 24-months postoperatively . Larger prospect i ve studies with extended follow-up periods are needed to eluci date whether bariatric surgery decreases risk for cognitive decline and possibly the development of dementia
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 .