Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...

Obesity

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...

Depression: Overview

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...

Stress and Mental Health

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The efficacy of zuranolone in postpartum depression and major depressive disorder: a review & number needed to treat (NNT) analysis.

Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·2024

Same author

Treatment-resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions.

World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA)·2023

Same author

Corrigendum to "Cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it): The association with self-reported anxiety in major depressive disorder" [J. Affect. Disord.. 238, 2018, pages 228-232].

Journal of affective disorders·2023

Same author

Evaluating the neural substrates of effort-expenditure for reward in adults with major depressive disorder and obesity.

Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging·2023

Same author

The Effects of Psilocybin in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder and the General Population: Findings from Neuroimaging Studies.

Psychiatry research·2022

Same author

Social Isolation, Loneliness and Generalized Anxiety: Implications and Associations during the COVID-19 Quarantine.

Brain sciences·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Published on: November 21, 2025

Obesity and mental illness: implications for cognitive functioning.

Roger S McIntyre¹, Danielle S Cha, Jeanette M Jerrell

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Roger.McIntyre@uhn.ca

Advances in Therapy

|July 11, 2013

Summary

Obesity negatively impacts cognitive function in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD). Addressing obesity is crucial for improving cognition and illness outcomes in these individuals.

More Related Videos

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Published on: June 21, 2019

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: March 14, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Published on: November 21, 2025

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Published on: June 21, 2019

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: March 14, 2025

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Metabolic disorders

Background:

Cognitive impairment is a significant issue in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD).
Obesity is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing the relationship between NPD and cognitive performance.
Obesity may act as a neurotoxic agent in individuals with NPD.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of obesity as a determinant of cognitive impairment in NPD.
To understand the bidirectional association between NPD and cognitive performance, mediated by obesity.
To highlight the neurotoxic effects of obesity on neural circuits and cognitive function.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on obesity, NPD, and cognitive function.
Analysis of studies examining neural circuit alterations and network function in obese individuals with NPD.
Examination of data on cognitive performance and illness trajectory in relation to obesity status.

Main Results:

Obesity is associated with altered neural structure and function in NPD populations.
Obesity correlates with diminished cognitive performance in individuals with NPD.
Obesity adversely affects the illness trajectory of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

Obesity presents a neurotoxic phenotype in individuals with NPD, impacting cognition.
Screening for, treating, and preventing obesity is essential in neuropsychiatric care.
Further research is needed to identify mediators and moderators and develop interventions to mitigate obesity's cognitive impact.