Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler's Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children.

Liliana Aguayo,Andiara Schwingel,Maria Pineros-Leano,Solveig A Cunningham,Rosalba Aguirre-Pereyra,Rifat B Alam

doi:10.3390/children8060506

Abstract

Healthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sample of child–caregiver dyads (n = 85 dyads) were recruited from a public preschool serving a low-income community in central Mexico. Caregivers reported the frequency of ten family behaviors using the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool. Children completed a test of their ability to recall four words after a 60-s distraction task, an assessment of working memory. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association of children’s working memory with each family behavior, adjusting for children’s sex, age, mother’s age and education, and subjective social status and then also adjusting for children’s age- and sex-specific body mass index percentile (BMI-P) and covariates. Higher frequency of breakfast intake was significantly associated with working memory (β = 0.57, p = 0.013). This association was independent of children’s BMI-P. Other family behaviors (frequent family mealtimes, limiting screen time, and others) were not significantly associated with children’s working memory. Frequent breakfast intake could benefit young children’s working memory, regardless of their weight status. This association merits further investigation.

Highlights

In Mexico, about 4% of children under age 5 are underweight, while over 30% have overweight or obesity [1]
The goal of this study is to explore the association between family nutrition and activity environments, as measured by the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) screening tool, and children’s ability to perform on a 60-s delayed recall test, a proxy measurement of working memory competences
Children’s body mass index percentile (BMI-P) was not significantly associated with children’s working memory in any of the tests performed

Summary

Introduction

In Mexico, about 4% of children under age 5 are underweight, while over 30% have overweight or obesity [1]. Observational and experimental studies have shown that both underweight and obesity are associated with poor cognitive function in children and adolescents, affecting executive functioning, selfregulation, attention, gross motor skill development, and visual/spatial performance [4,5,6,7]. 3–20 years suggested breakfast intake has positive effects on children’s working memory and attention [9]. Among children aged 5 years old and younger, studies have shown that physical activity is positively associated with brain development, executive function, self-regulation, and other dimensions of children’s cognitive health [5]

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