Description
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, especially within the United States. Children account for 17% of those who are obese and this makes them at risk for developing numerous noncommunicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to compare the association between overweight and obese children (unhealthy weight) to healthy weight children regarding their cognitive functioning. The relationship can be implied after evidence of deteriorated cognition affecting adults with excess weight. Cognitive functioning was measured via scores on cognitive function assessments measuring: executive function, academic achievement, and general intelligence. The children's race was also compared using the same variables. It was hypothesized that unhealthy weight children would perform more poorly and all assessments which measured cognitive functioning. Unhealthy weight children did not statistically significantly differ from healthy weight children on the assessments analyzed; however, there were small to large effect sizes. This was predominately seen within the academic achievement assessment.
