Cognitive and Psycho-Social Effects of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has been declared as a global epidemic. Several studies have reported inverse associations of childhood obesity with cognitive and psycho-social functioning of obese children. The present study is an attempt to understand the cognitive and psycho-social aspects of childhood obesity in Indian context. The objective of the study was to compare the cognitive functions (memory, attention, and visual retention) and psychosocial functioning (body shape concerns and insecurity) of obese children with normal weight controls. The cross sectional research was carried out. Purposive sampling was used to collect the sample of 30 obese children and 30 normal weight children (controls) from schools in Delhi. The inclusion criteria for cases and controls were obese and normal weight children as per ICMR criteria, within the age range of 10-14 years. Children with previous history of head injury or other physical, medical or neurological problems, chronic medical illness and other metabolic disorders (diabetes and thyroid), were excluded from the study. All the children were assessed on cognitive functions (Digit symbol test and immediate memory test) and psycho-social functioning (Body Shape Questionnaire, Mohsen’s security insecurity questionnaire). The performance of obese children was found to be poor compared to normal weight children by using t-test. Obese children performed significantly poor on attention and visual retention and immediate memory for direct reciprocation. However, there was no significant difference on reverse immediate memory test. Obese children were also found to be more insecure compared to the normal weight controls about their body image. Obese children expressed high body shape concerns compared to normal weight counterparts. Findings suggest independent associations of specific cognitive and psycho-social aspects with childhood obesity that can be targeted for prevention and management of this global epidemic.