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Effects of an obesity intervention program on cognitive function in children: A randomized controlled trial
Tao Huang1, Kristian Traberg Larsen1, Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen2,3
1Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Insights
An obesity intervention improved children's visuospatial construction skills, emotional control, and monitoring abilities. This study highlights the positive impact of lifestyle changes on pediatric cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood adiposity is linked to diminished cognitive function.
- Understanding the impact of interventions on cognitive development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a structured obesity intervention on children's cognitive abilities.
- To assess changes in visuospatial construction, emotional control, and monitoring skills.
Main Methods:
- 115 children were randomized into a Day Camp Intervention Arm (DCIA) or Standard Intervention Arm (SIA).
- The DCIA involved a 6-week day camp (physical exercise, health classes) followed by a 46-week family-based program.
- Cognitive function and anthropometrics were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 52 weeks.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in visuospatial construction skills were observed in the DCIA group at 6 weeks (P=0.02).
- At 52 weeks, the DCIA group showed greater improvements in emotional control (P=0.002) and monitoring (P=0.04).
- No significant group differences were found for other cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The comprehensive obesity intervention positively impacted specific cognitive domains in children.
- Findings suggest that interventions targeting adiposity can enhance emotional regulation and executive functions like monitoring and visuospatial skills.
Objective:
Adiposity may be associated with poorer cognitive function in children. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an obesity intervention on cognitive function in children.
Methods:
One hundred and fifteen children were randomly allocated to either the Day Camp Intervention Arm (DCIA) or the Standard Intervention Arm (SIA). Children in the DCIA participated in a 6-week day camp intervention and a subsequent 46-week family-based intervention. The camp intervention mainly consisted of physical exercise and health classes. The SIA was offered one weekly physical exercise session for 6 weeks and one educational meeting. Anthropometrics and cognitive function were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 52 weeks.
Results:
At 6 weeks, the improvement in visuospatial construction skills was larger in the DCIA than the SIA (standardized mean difference, 0.47, 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.86, P = 0.02). At 52 weeks, the improvements in emotional control (standardized mean difference, -0.42, 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.16, P = 0.002) and monitoring (standardized mean difference, -0.32, 95% CI, -0.63 to -0.02, P = 0.04) were larger in the DCIA than the SIA. No group differences were observed in changes in other cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
The obesity intervention may benefit emotional control, monitoring, and visuospatial construction skills in children.
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