Accumulation of Fat Mass During the School Year is Associated with Lower Gains in Math Achievement and Cognitive Control among Preadolescent Children
Authors: Curran Morgan R , Raine Lauren B , Pontifex Matthew B , Castelli Darla M , Hillman Charles H , Khan Naiman A 
Published: November 2023

An emerging body of literature indicates that obesity or excess adiposity has negative implications for both physical health and cognitive function during childhood. However, much of this evidence is based on cross‐sectional studies. Thus, the impact of transient changes in adiposity on children's achievement and cognitive function remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between changes in children's academic achievement and cognitive control as they related to changes in adiposity over the course of one school year. At baseline, preadolescent children between 8–9‐years (N=83), underwent dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess fat mass‐for‐age percentile. Academic achievement (Spelling, Reading, and Math) was assessed using the Wide Range Achievement Test 3rd Edition (WRAT‐3). Cognitive control was measured using three cognitive control tasks (Go/No‐Go, modified flanker, and a color‐shape switch task). All measures were repeated at follow‐up approximately 9 months later. Partial correlations were conducted to study the relationship between change (follow‐up‐baseline) in fat mass‐for‐age percentile (ΔFM%tile) and changes in academic achievement and cognitive control measures, following adjustment of time between visits. ΔFM%tile was not significantly related to change in Spelling (r=10.14, P=0.11) and Reading (r=0.13, P=0.13). However, ΔFM%tile inversely related to change in Math achievement (r=−0.22, P=0.03) indicating that greater increase in ΔFM%tile was related to smaller improvement in math achievement scores. ΔFM%tile was correlated with change in reaction time during the Go condition of the Go/NoGo task (r=0.27, P<0.01) indicating that increased ΔFM%tile was related to smaller improvements in reaction time. However, there was no significant relationship between ΔFM%tile and accuracy during the Go/NoGo task (r=−0.04, P=0.36). ΔFM%tile was not significantly related to change in reaction time or accuracy during the flanker task (all P's >0.05). However, ΔFM%tile was related to change in response accuracy interference during the flanker task (r=0.27, P<0.01) indicating that increased ΔFM%tile was related to greater interference with increased demand for cognitive control. Finally, ΔFM%tile was inversely related to change in response accuracy during the heterogeneous trials of Switch task (r=−0.19, P=0.04) indicating that increased ΔFM%tile was related to greater decrements in cognitive flexibility with increased cognitive demands. In conclusion, although preadolescent children progressed in academic achievement and cognitive control during the school year, the degree of improvement was limited by the accumulation of fat mass during this period. Children with the greatest increase in adiposity during the school year exhibited lower gains in math achievement and selective aspects of cognitive control. This work further supports public health concerns related to the detrimental effects of childhood obesity on both physical and mental health among preadolescent children.

Support or Funding Information

Funded by NIH (HD055352)