One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers
This study examined the prospective relationships between preschoolers’ body mass index (BMI) and cognitive development. BMI, cognitive (i.e., Brigance), sex, and age data were collected from seven cohorts of children attending Head Start from 2012 to 2018. Children (<i>N</i> = 324) with...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/3/320 |
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| author | Carina Hansen Latasha Smith Brian A. Lynch Antonela Miccoli Magdalena Romanowicz Loren Toussaint |
| author_facet | Carina Hansen Latasha Smith Brian A. Lynch Antonela Miccoli Magdalena Romanowicz Loren Toussaint |
| author_sort | Carina Hansen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined the prospective relationships between preschoolers’ body mass index (BMI) and cognitive development. BMI, cognitive (i.e., Brigance), sex, and age data were collected from seven cohorts of children attending Head Start from 2012 to 2018. Children (<i>N</i> = 324) with two years of complete data were included. After controlling for the first year cognitive development scores, age, gender, and the cohort, the BMI was predictive of lower cognitive development scores in year two (<i>B</i> = −0.06, β = −0.14, <i>t</i> = −3.19, <i>p</i> = 0.002). Female sex (<i>B</i> = 2.69, β = 0.10, <i>t</i> = 2.30, <i>p</i> = 0.022) and older age (<i>B</i> = 0.02, β = 0.15, <i>t</i> = 3.20, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001) were also shown to be statistically significant predictors of improved year two cognitive scores. The initial BMI scores were associated with poorer one year cognitive development scores in this sample of preschool children. Excessive body mass may contribute to numerous biological, psychological, and social factors that inhibit children with obesity from reaching their full cognitive potential, during a time in which brain development and cognitive skills development are at critical points of growth. Early childhood obesity interventions may have positive consequences for cognitive development, but additional prospective studies are needed to confirm these results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:03:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b510bbd13524d70b7159ce7435e2bd2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:03:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b510bbd13524d70b7159ce7435e2bd22023-11-24T00:37:25ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-02-0112332010.3390/brainsci12030320One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in PreschoolersCarina Hansen0Latasha Smith1Brian A. Lynch2Antonela Miccoli3Magdalena Romanowicz4Loren Toussaint5Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USADepartment of Science and Math, Central Baptist College, Conway, AR 70532, USADepartment of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USADepartment of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USADepartment of Psychology and Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USADepartment of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USAThis study examined the prospective relationships between preschoolers’ body mass index (BMI) and cognitive development. BMI, cognitive (i.e., Brigance), sex, and age data were collected from seven cohorts of children attending Head Start from 2012 to 2018. Children (<i>N</i> = 324) with two years of complete data were included. After controlling for the first year cognitive development scores, age, gender, and the cohort, the BMI was predictive of lower cognitive development scores in year two (<i>B</i> = −0.06, β = −0.14, <i>t</i> = −3.19, <i>p</i> = 0.002). Female sex (<i>B</i> = 2.69, β = 0.10, <i>t</i> = 2.30, <i>p</i> = 0.022) and older age (<i>B</i> = 0.02, β = 0.15, <i>t</i> = 3.20, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001) were also shown to be statistically significant predictors of improved year two cognitive scores. The initial BMI scores were associated with poorer one year cognitive development scores in this sample of preschool children. Excessive body mass may contribute to numerous biological, psychological, and social factors that inhibit children with obesity from reaching their full cognitive potential, during a time in which brain development and cognitive skills development are at critical points of growth. Early childhood obesity interventions may have positive consequences for cognitive development, but additional prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/3/320obesitychild developmentpreschool child |
| spellingShingle | Carina Hansen Latasha Smith Brian A. Lynch Antonela Miccoli Magdalena Romanowicz Loren Toussaint One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers Brain Sciences obesity child development preschool child |
| title | One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers |
| title_full | One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers |
| title_fullStr | One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers |
| title_full_unstemmed | One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers |
| title_short | One-Year Prospective Association of BMI with Later Cognitive Development in Preschoolers |
| title_sort | one year prospective association of bmi with later cognitive development in preschoolers |
| topic | obesity child development preschool child |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/3/320 |
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