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Inhibitory control in otherwise healthy overweight 10-year-old children
S Reyes1, P Peirano1, P Peigneux2
1Sleep and Functional Neurobiology Laboratory, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Overweight children exhibit impaired inhibitory control, affecting food intake and energy regulation. This study highlights potential neurocognitive factors contributing to childhood obesity prevention challenges.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a global health concern.
- Obesogenic environments may impact children's eating behaviors and energy regulation.
- Altered inhibitory control is hypothesized to contribute to excessive food intake in overweight children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in inhibitory control between overweight/obese and normal-weight children.
- To explore the relationship between inhibitory control and body weight status in 10-year-olds.
Main Methods:
- Inhibitory control was assessed in 93 overweight/obese and 92 normal-weight 10-year-old children.
- The Stroop test and Go/No-Go task were employed to measure inhibitory control.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during the Go/No-Go task.
Main Results:
- Overweight/obese children demonstrated slower reaction times on the Stroop test.
- Increased reaction time variability was observed in overweight/obese children during the Go/No-Go task.
- A decreased P300 amplitude in event-related potentials was noted in overweight/obese children.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest impaired inhibitory control in otherwise healthy overweight/obese children.
- Altered inhibitory control may play a role in the excessive food consumption observed in this population.
- These neurocognitive differences could inform strategies for childhood obesity prevention.
Background:
Preventing obesity is a worldwide public health priority. In vulnerable children living in obesogenic environments, with easy access to high-caloric food, alterations in inhibitory control functions might favor excessive food intake and affect energy regulation. We hypothesized that overweight/obese children would present lower inhibitory control in comparison to normal weight children.
Methods:
We measured inhibitory control functions in 93 otherwise healthy overweight/obese and 92 normal weight 10-year-old children using the Stroop test and the Go/No-Go task. Event-related potentials were recorded during the Go/No-Go task.
Results:
Overweight/obese children showed slower reaction times (1248.6 ms (95% confidence interval (CI): 1182.9-1314.3) vs 1149.0 ms (95% CI: 1083.0-1215.1)) on the Stroop test, higher reaction time variability (0.25 (95% CI: 0.22-0.27) vs 0.21 (95% CI: 0.19-0.24)) on the Go/No-Go task and decreased P300 amplitude (4.1 μV (95% CI: 3.0-5.2) vs 6.4 μV (95% CI: 5.2-7.6)) on event-related potentials compared with normal weight children.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate altered inhibitory control functions in otherwise healthy overweight/obese children, which might contribute to their excessive food consumption.
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