Cognitive development and morbid obesity

Abstract

The etiology of early onset morbid obesity is not clear. In some cases, it is due to a genetic or syndromic cause such as with Prader-Willi syndrome. Miller et al report an evaluation of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, children with early onset morbid obesity of unknown cause, and siblings from both groups who served as controls. They found that those with early onset obesity had significantly lower cognitive function and more behavioral problems than controls. Cognitive function for the early onset obesity group was intermediate between the patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and controls.