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The Relationship between Executive Functions and Body Weight: Sex as a Moderating Variable
Ciro Rosario Ilardi1, Antonietta Monda2, Alessandro Iavarone3
1IRCCS SDN-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, SYNLAB Istituto di Diagnostica Nucleare, 80143 Napoli, Italy.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2024
Summary
Executive functions impact body weight differently in men and women, with higher cognitive function linked to lower waist circumference in women. Waist circumference is a more effective measure than Body Mass Index for these analyses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Executive functions are crucial for cognitive control and decision-making.
- Body weight is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors.
- Previous research has explored links between cognition and obesity, but often overlooks sex differences and methodological choices in measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between executive functions and body weight, considering sex as a biological factor.
- To compare the efficacy of Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in assessing these relationships.
- To determine if sex moderates the association between executive function and body weight.
Main Methods:
- 386 participants (222 female, mean age 45.98) provided sociodemographic, anthropometric (BMI, WC), and executive function data.
- Executive functions were assessed using the Frontal Assessment Battery-15 (FAB15).
- Statistical analyses examined the interplay between executive functions, sex, BMI, and WC.
Main Results:
- Waist circumference (WC) proved more effective than Body Mass Index (BMI) in revealing associations between executive functions, sex, and body weight.
- A significant moderating effect of sex was observed: women with higher executive function had lower WCs compared to men.
- Executive function appears to have a more pronounced impact on waist circumference in women than in men.
Conclusions:
- Sex significantly moderates the relationship between executive function and body weight, particularly when using waist circumference as the measure.
- Higher executive functioning is associated with lower waist circumference in women, suggesting a stronger protective effect in this group.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex psychobiological and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits and weight gain, accounting for sex differences.
Keywords:
Body Mass Indexexecutive functionsmoderation analysisobesitysex differenceswaist circumferenceMore Related Videos
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