سامانه کنگره های دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات بهداشتی و درمانی آذربایجان غربی

صفحه اصلی / بیستمین همایش سالیانه بیماری های شایع گوارش و کبد کودکان ایران و دومین همایش بین المللی چاقی کودکان

The Impact of Obesity on Children's Cognitive Performance: A Review

نویسندگان :

Ulduz Riazi Khameneh¹ Manizheh Tayebi Khameneh²

1- دانشگاه آزاد واحد مرند 2- بیمارستان خامنه

کلمات کلیدی :

Childhood obesity،Cognitive function،Brain connectivity

چکیده :

Background and Aim: : Childhood and adolescent obesity has become a significant public health concern in the 21st century. During school years—critical for physical growth and cognitive development—proper nutrition is essential. Obesity is linked to diminished cognitive function across various domains, including processing speed, sustained attention, executive functions, memory, and perception. Contributing factors include low family income, genetic predisposition, and environmental influences such as access to high-calorie foods and limited exercise opportunities. Of particular concern are the impacts of obesity on normal brain development, especially at the extreme end of the BMI spectrum (>99th percentile), where comorbidities like sleep apnea may exacerbate cognitive impairments and school absenteeism. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar up to 2024. The keywords were " Cognitive Performance " and "obesity". Results: The analysis revealed several consistent findings: (1) Higher BMI was linked to lower cognitive performance, particularly in fluid intelligence and executive functions; (2) Increased fALFF was observed in interoceptive, somatomotor, and cerebellar regions, suggesting altered neuronal activity; (3) Decreased gFCD was noted in default-mode and cingulo-opercular networks, with pronounced effects in the precuneus as a key hub for cognitive processing; (4) White matter microstructure showed reduced integrity in the corpus callosum; (5) These effects were more prominent in children from low-income families, indicating socioeconomic mediation. Conclusion: The evidence indicates that childhood obesity is associated with alterations in brain connectivity, correlating with cognitive impairments. Addressing childhood obesity is crucial not only for physical health but also for cognitive development and academic performance. School-based interventions that increase physical activity and nutritional education may help mitigate these effects. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships and explore whether weight normalization can reverse these impacts, especially in cases of severe obesity.