Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
04:48

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Published on: May 8, 2018

11.9K

Associations between inhibitory control and body weight in German primary school children

Tamara Wirt1, Verena Hundsdörfer2, Anja Schreiber1

  • 1Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Medical Centre, Frauensteige 6, 89075 Ulm, Germany.

Eating Behaviors
|January 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children with lower inhibitory control are at higher risk for obesity. This study found that poor self-control in primary school children predicts higher body weight, even beyond other factors.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Inhibitory control deficits are a suspected risk factor for overweight.
  • Limited research exists on this link in non-clinical childhood populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between inhibitory control and body weight in a large sample of primary school children.
  • To determine if inhibitory control predicts body weight independently of other factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized baseline data from 498 primary school children (grades 1-2) in Germany.
  • Assessed inhibitory control using a Go-Nogo task.
  • Measured height and weight to calculate BMI percentiles; collected sociodemographic and behavioral data via parental questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • Inhibitory control was significantly associated with body weight.
  • Lower inhibitory control predicted higher body weight, even after accounting for parental education, migration background, parental weight, TV consumption, and breakfast habits.
  • Obese children showed significantly lower inhibitory control compared to non-overweight and overweight peers.

Conclusions:

  • Deficits in inhibitory control are a significant risk factor for pediatric obesity.
  • This suggests that improving self-control may be a potential strategy for preventing childhood obesity.

Keywords:
ChildImpulsivityInhibitionObesityOverweightSelf-regulation

More Related Videos

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

4.4K
Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention09:48

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Published on: September 11, 2017

9.7K

Related Concept Videos

Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
359
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
889
Feedback Inhibition00:46

Feedback Inhibition

Biochemical reactions are occurring constantly in cells, converting starting substances to different products, usually with the help of enzymes that speed the reactions. Without enzymes, it would take far too long for most reactions to occur to be useful to the cell!
44.1K