•  
  •  
 

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BODY COMPOSITION AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by immense psychological and physical changes, including cognitive functioning and body composition. While research has shown that obesity impacts cognitive functioning, there is a poor understanding of which aspects of body composition impact cognitive function during adolescence. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess different body composition metrics in relation to cognitive functioning in female adolescents. METHODS: Forty-one female participants (age = 14.59 ± 1.75 years; range = 12–17) had their height and weight assessed to compute body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile, and percent whole-body fat mass (%BF) was measured using a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Cognitive function was assessed using a modified go/no-go computerized task while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. The primary cognitive function variable of interest was the P3 event-related brain potential (ERP), a positive wave in the EEG peaking around 350 ms following stimulus presentation that reflects inhibitory control during no-go trials and target detection during go-trials. RESULTS: Descriptive statistics showed a %BF of 31.48 ± 6.92 and a BMI-for-age percentile of 62.20 ± 25.59 across the sample. A go/no-go EEG task manipulation check indicated that the no-go P3 amplitude was larger than the go P3 amplitude (8.55 ± 6.45 µV vs. 4.49 ± 4.16 µV; t[40] = 4.23, p < .001), suggesting inhibitory control required greater attentional resource allocation compared to target detection. Correlation analyses revealed that a higher %BF was associated with a smaller no-go P3 amplitude (ρ = -.26, p = 0.049; one-tailed) but not with go P3 amplitude (ρ = -.04, p = .395). BMI-for-age percentile was not associated with either no-go or go P3 amplitudes (ps > -.075). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a negative association between adiposity and cognitive function in female adolescents that was not captured by BMI metrics. Relying on BMI may obscure relationships between body composition and cognitive function. Excess adiposity could not only impair cognitive development, but deficits in inhibitory control could also contribute to behaviors that lead to increased adiposity.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS