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Is obesity a risk factor for impaired cognition in young adults with low birth weight?

M Lundgren1, E Morgården, J Gustafsson

  • 1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Pediatric Obesity
|August 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Overweight and obesity are linked to lower intellectual performance in young men. Individuals with low birth weight who are overweight or obese face the highest risk of subnormal cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Overweight and obesity are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
  • Associations exist between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive abilities.
  • Low birth weight is linked to adult metabolic disease, especially in obese individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of overweight and obesity on intellectual performance in young adults.
  • To specifically examine if low birth weight modifies the relationship between weight status and cognitive function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register for 620,834 males born between 1973 and 1988.
  • Matched birth records with intellectual performance and body mass index (BMI) data at conscription.
  • Analyzed the association between BMI, birth weight, and intellectual performance outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Higher BMI was associated with an increased risk of low intellectual performance.
  • Subjects with low birth weight and overweight or obesity exhibited the highest risk (ORs 1.98 and 2.59, respectively).
  • High birth weight combined with high adult BMI did not confer additional risk for subnormal performance.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity are linked to an increased risk of subnormal intellectual performance in young adult males.
  • Low birth weight combined with adolescent overweight/obesity presents a particular risk for subnormal cognitive function.
  • While high birth weight increases obesity risk, high adult BMI alone does not further elevate the risk for subnormal performance.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cognitionlow birth weightobesity

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