UNAM Study Reveals Cognitive and Emotional Impacts
A recent study conducted at the Faculty of Psychology (FP) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has uncovered significant brain development alterations in children with overweight and obesity. These issues include difficulties in impulse gratification, social cognition, and emotional self-regulation, along with reduced cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control.
The Study and Its Key Findings
Led by researchers Maura Jazmín Ramírez Flores, Karla García, Dalia Rodríguez, and José Luis Rodríguez at the UNAM’s Neuropsychology and Cognition Lab, the study examined 73 children aged seven to twelve with varying levels of weight.
Using the EFECS platform, which evaluates executive functions like inhibition and cognitive flexibility along with social cognition aspects such as emotion recognition and pragmatic language, the researchers found that children with overweight or obesity performed worse in theory of mind and working memory tasks.
Specifically, verbal working memory posed more challenges for obese children, although their visual working memory performance was better. This could be linked to the relationship between this ability and the types of food consumed.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Participants
The study also found that 90.9% of participants had family members with excess weight, and 40.9% perceived themselves as overweight, compared to 35.5% of children with normal weight reporting family members with overweight.
Brain Development and Executive Functions
According to Dr. Maura Jazmín Ramírez Flores, the critical stages of brain development occur between three and five years old and from thirteen to twenty-six. The maturation of executive functions, crucial for behaviors, judgments, and goal-setting, is primarily located in the prefrontal cortex, situated behind the eyes.
Global Overweight and Obesity Statistics
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 390 million people aged five to nineteen suffer from overweight, and 160 million have obesity. In children under three to five years old, the figure reaches 37 million.
Overweight in Mexico
Regarding Mexico, Dr. Ramírez Flores referenced data from the Ensanut Continua 2020-2022 by the National Public Health Institute, documenting high consumption of ultra-processed foods among children. An alarming 83% of preschoolers and 95% of school-aged children consume sugary beverages.
Furthermore, a study by the Autonomous University of Nuevo León found that 69.3% of mothers and 27.9% of their children had overweight or obesity. Additionally, 13.8% of women and 8.3% of their children showed signs of food addiction, suggesting a possible inherited or learned influence in the family environment.
Implications for Adults and Early Development
Dr. Ramírez Flores warned that in adults with obesity, there is a documented lower capacity to inhibit the impulse to seek food, associated with brain circuits linked to reward, motivation, and learning. This issue might develop during early life stages.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of the UNAM study? The study investigates the impact of childhood overweight and obesity on brain development, cognitive functions, and emotional regulation.
- Who conducted the study? The research was led by Maura Jazmín Ramírez Flores, Karla García, Dalia Rodríguez, and José Luis Rodríguez from the Faculty of Psychology at UNAM.
- What specific cognitive and emotional issues were identified? Children with overweight or obesity showed difficulties in impulse gratification, social cognition, emotional self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.
- What percentage of study participants had family members with excess weight? 90.9% of the participants had family members with excess weight.
- What are the global statistics on overweight and obesity among children and adolescents? According to the WHO, there are 390 million people aged five to nineteen with overweight and 160 million with obesity. In children under three to five years old, the figure reaches 37 million.
- What are the concerning statistics on overweight and obesity in Mexico? The Ensanut Continua 2020-2022 reported high consumption of ultra-processed foods among Mexican children, with 83% of preschoolers and 95% of school-aged children consuming sugary beverages.
- What additional findings did the study by the Autonomous University of Nuevo León reveal? The study found that 69.3% of mothers and 27.9% of their children had overweight or obesity, with 13.8% of women and 8.3% of their children showing signs of food addiction.
- What are the potential implications for adults with obesity? Adults with obesity have been found to have a lower capacity to inhibit the impulse to seek food, which might develop during early life stages.
