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Physical Fitness, Physical Activity, and the Executive Function in Children with Overweight and Obesity

Jose Mora-Gonzalez1, Irene Esteban-Cornejo2, Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez3

  • 1PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity" Research Group, Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Granada, Spain; Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|March 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Physical fitness, including muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, is linked to better executive function in children with overweight or obesity. However, physical activity levels and sedentary time showed no significant associations with executive function.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Exercise Science
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Children with overweight and obesity often experience challenges with executive function.
  • Understanding the relationship between physical fitness and executive function is crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between physical fitness components and executive function in children with overweight and obesity.
  • To examine the relationship between physical activity, sedentary time, and executive function in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 100 children (mean age 10.1 years) with overweight/obesity.
  • Physical fitness assessed using the ALPHA battery (muscular strength, speed-agility, cardiorespiratory fitness).
  • Executive function measured via tests for cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and planning ability; physical activity and sedentary time measured by accelerometry.

Main Results:

  • Positive associations were found between handgrip strength and planning ability (P=.025).
  • Speed-agility correlated positively with cognitive flexibility and inhibition (P<.05).
  • Cardiorespiratory fitness and overall fitness Z-score were linked to cognitive flexibility (P<.05); no significant associations for physical activity or sedentary time.

Conclusions:

  • Muscular strength, speed-agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with executive function in overweight/obese children.
  • Cognitive flexibility demonstrated robust associations with multiple fitness components.
  • Findings support the need for exercise-based interventions to improve executive function in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
aerobic fitnessbraincognitive controlcognitive performanceexecutive controlhealthyouth

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