Abstract
Background and objectives: Existing studies concerning the associations of cognitive function with adiposity in young adults are sparse. The purpose of the study was to examine the associations of adiposity with cognitive control in young adults. Materials and Methods: Participants were 213 young adults (98 women and 115 men). Cognitive control was measured using a modified task-switching paradigm. Anthropometrics were measured by standardized procedures. Body fat mass and visceral fat area were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: The results showed that increased body mass index (BMI, p = 0.02), body fat percentage (p = 0.02), and visceral fat area (p = 0.01) were significantly correlated with larger global switch costs of accuracy in women. In men, high levels of body fat percentage (p = 0.01) and visceral fat area (p = 0.03) were significantly correlated with larger local switch costs of reaction time. Conclusions: The results indicated that elevated adiposity was associated with worse performance on measures of cognitive control in young adults.
Highlights
With its increased prevalence over the past three decades, obesity has become a public health problem in many countries [1,2]
The present study aimed to investigate the associations of three indicators of adiposity (i.e., body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and visceral fat area) with performance on a task-switching paradigm which requires working memory and cognitive flexibility in healthy young adults
The findings indicated that elevated adiposity was associated with worse performance on the task-switching paradigm
Summary
With its increased prevalence over the past three decades, obesity has become a public health problem in many countries [1,2]. In China, it was estimated that the rate of overweight and obesity in adults was 41.2% and 12.9% in 2014 [3], respectively It is well-documented that higher body mass index (BMI) results in an increased risk of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and strokes [4,5]. Results: The results showed that increased body mass index (BMI, p = 0.02), body fat percentage (p = 0.02), and visceral fat area (p = 0.01) were significantly correlated with larger global switch costs of accuracy in women. High levels of body fat percentage (p = 0.01) and visceral fat area (p = 0.03) were significantly correlated with larger local switch costs of reaction time. Conclusions: The results indicated that elevated adiposity was associated with worse performance on measures of cognitive control in young adults
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