Body Mass Index and Cognitive Ability of Young Children

Abstract

Objective: This study prospectively assessed the association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive ability of young children, while accounting for confounding factors. Methods: The study included 236 children born between 1990 and 1994 participating in a Dutch birth cohort study. Anthropometric data of the children at birth, 4, and 7 years of age were collected from growth records or measured at the Academic Hospital of Maastricht. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) was used to assess cognitive ability at 7 years of age. The association between BMI and cognitive ability was investigated using univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses, including various covariates. Results: Although the results suggest that cognitive ability at 7 years of age decreased with increasing BMI at 4 years and 7 years of age, this association was not significant in any performed analysis. Multivariate analyses showed that maternal intelligence was strongly associated with all scales of the K-ABC as a significant covariate. Adjusting analyses for physical fitness of the child, maternal education, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and birth weight did not change the results. Conclusion: This study found no evidence for an association between BMI and cognitive ability of school-aged children.

Impact of Early‐Life Weight Status on Cognitive Abilities in Children

“…Other prospective studies have examined the impact of obesity in childhood on global measures of cognition, with varied results . Consistent with one of our findings, two studies reported that obesity at ages 3 to 5 years was associated with lower cognitive abilities in boys only at ages 5 or 8 to 12 years .…”

“…Prospective studies examining the association between weight status and cognitive abilities in children have yielded inconsistent results . Two studies examined the impact of early‐life weight status on cognitive abilities; however, both studies focused on change in BMI or weight over the first few years of life .…”

“…Previous studies examining childhood weight status and cognition using cross‐sectional designs were not able to specify the directionality of this relationship . Results from prospective studies are inconsistent, possibly because of discrepancies in age and weight distribution, assessment of weight status or cognitive abilities, and confounder adjustment . Furthermore, only two studies examined the impact of early‐life obesity on childhood cognition; however, both studies focused on early growth .…”

Western Diet and Cognitive Impairment

“…This suggests that high BMI and adiposity interfered most with inhibitory control. Based on the results of these and other studies, it appears that even at relatively young ages, excessive body weight is associated with deficits in some types of cognitive capacities [15]. Both of these deficits could also reflect impaired inhibitory control.…”

Different Result of Cognitive Impairment Screening in Adolescent Aged 10-12 Years with Normal and Short Stature in Pangandaran District

“…[15,21] Initially, body mass index (BMI) were thought to affect cognitive function, but after further analysis, BMI has no correlation with cognitive function. Study by Jorien, et al [22] demonstrated that there was no correlation between BMI and cognitive function. In contrast, study by Li et al [23] reported obesity on children were followed by decline of IQ.…”