Systematic Review: Are Overweight and Obese Individuals Impaired on Behavioural Tasks of Executive Functioning?

Abstract

This review was aimed at systematically investigating the evidence suggesting that obese individuals demonstrate impaired performance on behavioural tasks examining executive functioning abilities. A systematic review of literature was carried out by searching five separate databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed) and a hand search of relevant journals. Twenty-one empirical papers were identified from the search criteria and the results were considered in relation to different executive functioning domains. There is little consistency of results both within and across different domains of executive functioning. The review suggests that obese individuals show difficulties with decision-making, planning and problem-solving when compared to healthy weight controls, with fewer difficulties reported on tasks examining verbal fluency and learning and memory. A lack of replication and underreporting of descriptive data is a key limitation of studies in this area and further research is needed to examine the mechanisms underpinning the relationship between obesity and executive functioning.

Overweight and Normal-Weight Children’s Decision-Making in a Child Variant of the Iowa Gambling Task

“…Studies that used the IGT found consistent evidence for impaired decision-making under uncertainty, evident in relatively more disadvantageous choices, in overweight and obese as compared to normal-weight adults [e.g., [12,13]]. Likewise, obese and overweight children and adolescents show inferior executive functioning than do their normal-weight peers [7].…”

“…Although these findings might suggest otherwise, only few studies on weight-group differences in the IGT have taken gender into account. In fact, most of the studies included only female participants or analyzed women and men together [12]. Two studies that compared men and women yielded inconsistent results, indicating that, on one hand, obese women but not obese men show a larger preference than normal-weight controls for high immediate reward and insensitivity to rare but high losses [8].…”

Addiction to food: how go/no-go tasks affect appetite

“…Impulsiveness has everything to do with not having the ability to inhibit urges towards stimuli and not knowing how to make the right choices. Earlier studies show that many people suffering from obesity have difficulties in decision making, where they often base their decision on what first comes to mind instead of formulating a balance between the pros and cons (Fitzpatrick, Gilbert & Serpell, 2013). Decision making is an important factor in inhibitory control and is essential in making rational choices which would provide the most positive long term outcomes.…”

“…Decision making is an important factor in inhibitory control and is essential in making rational choices which would provide the most positive long term outcomes. For people suffering from obesity, a lack in decision making and impulsive behavior are specifically related to food and food related stimuli (Fitzpatrick et al, 2013). A number of studies have focused on the underlying mechanisms that lead to this impulsive behavior.…”

Calorie Restriction, Longevity and Cognitive Function

“…Approximately 80% of older adults (+65years) have at least one of the above mentioned chronic diseases, and 50% have at least two chronic disease (1). Along with other organs, brain is also affected with aging and high calorie intake as Fitzpatrik and colleagues suggested in a review article that obese people have problems on decision-making, planning and solving skill, with fewer difficulties on the tasks of verbal fluency, learning and memory (2). In contrast, a reduction of calorie intake without malnutrition called "calorie restriction" (CR) has a wide range of benefits.…”