University of Florida researchers reported that morbid obesity in toddlers, defined as weighing 150 percent of normal weight, is associated with lower IQs, cognitive delays, and lesions that appear similar to those found in Alzheimer’s disease.
The morbidly obese toddlers had IQs of 78, although their normal-weighted siblings had IQs of 106. The researchers compared their cases of morbid obesity to children with a genetic disorder, Prader-Willi syndrome, which not only produces mental retardation but also leads to uncontrolled eating and obesity unless the child’s diet is carefully supervised. The IQs of the Prader-Willi group averaged 63.
The researchers emphasized that the risk of obesity on brain development is most pronounced for children under 4 years of age. Beyond that age, the brain appears to develop sufficiently to be protected from the effects of obesity. Nonetheless, this article is a further reminder of the serious consequences of our current world-wide obesity epidemic.
You can visit Dr. Driscoll’s home page at the University of Florida here.
11 Comments
kcrusePSY340 · November 15, 2006 at 8:48 pm
The obesity probably effects the cognitive abilities of children under age 4 the most because as we learned in class that is the most critical period of neurogenesis. Anything that puts extra stress on the brain during that critical time probably has adverse affects on iq. Perhaps you could also make the correlation that most obese children have limited activity, for example sitting on the couch watching tv instead of playing, and maybe that lack of stimulation causes extreme “use it or lose it” during that period or neurogenesis.
LeaRoltsch · November 17, 2006 at 5:17 pm
The body and the mind are very interconnected, so it can only be expected that this happens. It is very sad and disturbing, and definitely puts an emphasis on the fact that good health at all ages is very important.
nelsayed · November 18, 2006 at 12:00 pm
With world wide obesity on the rise more people should be educated on this issue. I agree that the effects of obesity on cognitive abilities may have something to do with a critical period where physical activity and stimulation are essential for proper development.
Milissa · November 21, 2006 at 7:22 pm
It is terrible that these children really have little control of this type of situation. The parents should be aware of the problem and the consequences and take some action for their children’s well being. I would take a guess that their must be a relationship between the problem of children’s obesity and the lack of activity for these children. The lack of activity such as outdoor play, sports and such is being replaced by television watching which would help to explain the low IQ scores. It is a sad reality.
Krstna1418 · November 24, 2006 at 1:47 pm
The article suggests that the onset of childhood obesity and cognitive deficits is triggered by metabolic and biochemical problems more than parental negligence. Even in cases of fraternal twins with one lean and the other obese, the obese child eats the same food (if not less) than the lean child, does the same activity, and is exposed to the same environment. This suggests the parents are not to blame for allowing inactivity or a lack of stimulation but instead of not testing them and getting them help as soon as they see this problem.
MollyMcLaughlin · November 27, 2006 at 2:59 pm
I find this article to be very sad, but true. Have there been studies to see how socioeconomic status/location/etc. plays a part in this? It seems that obesity can be a genetic-problem for some, but at such a young age, I wonder how other factors (diet, parent-child relationship) are affecting this.
AshleyGrinchis · November 29, 2006 at 1:24 pm
It is very disturbing that obese children are lowering their IQs along with all the other health, physical, and emotional problems they experience. This should be even more of a reason for parents to do something to prevent this. We learned in Developmental Psych. that the best way for a parent to help an overweight child or adolescent is by exercising with them, especially in activities that people of any size can do, such as walking, biking, and swimming. I think that this is a great idea because our society is becoming more and more overweight and if families made time to exercise together on a regular basis it would definitely help America slim down.
Ariel_Januszewicz · November 30, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I agree with Molly and Ashley above that the problem of childhood obesity has many factors and is often solved on a family level. Genetics can only play so far into whether or not a young child (4 and under) is obese. By far I would think that the majority of obese children do not have prader-willi, therefore the cause of obesity seems to fall on the parents’ shoulders. Parents must be taught good nutrition in order that their children will have the best start in life. Young children don’t have the necessary skills at that age to be looking after their own well-being. It is sad that a child must later live with a reduced IQ because of his parents bad decisions.
tommy_truong · December 8, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Obesity isn’t just a problem for little kids, but for adults and teens as well. I was a skinny kid till high school when i was eating more than i should. That led me to be less confident in myself but it didn’t affect my schoolwork. So i agree that being more fat as a teen don’t make you dumber. However, in my first few years of college, i founded out that i was more depressed due to my obesity. This was affecting my schoolwork and i wasn’t getting the grades i should be getting. So i started doing aerobic exercise like running 3 miles a day. This helps me be less depressed and I was more focus when it comes to studying. Plus, i feel healthier and look better and have more confident in myself. My grades improved. I hope that parents realize that obesity might also affect their kids’ education, and not just their weight and look.
katiecrawford · December 10, 2006 at 12:13 am
I found this article very interesting! There was a stat on healthiergeneration.org, that said 17% of youth ages 2-19 are overweight. This number is not mind-blowing, but it still, accounts for a lot of youth in America. One thing that I always forget to remember is that sometimes being overweight is not a choice. I found an interesting article on ScienceDaily.com that’s title is, Human Breast Milk Contains Obesity Hormone, Researchers Find. So maybe there is something more to being overweight that just over eating.
appletree » Blog Archive » Science Links: ‘World’s Cutest Mammoth’ Edition · July 12, 2007 at 3:27 pm
[…] Yet another thing for parents to worry about: Chubby Toddlers At Risk For Cognitive Deficits […]
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