It’s a big worry across the globe: kids carrying too much weight. This is especially true for children and teens between ages 5 and 19. New studies from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, known as UNAM, show something concerning. They found that being overweight or obese can actually mess with how a child’s brain develops. This impact is strongest during those crucial early years of life.
Understanding the Problem
Being overweight and having obesity come from different paths. Yet, a common thread often ties them together: a diet full of ultra-processed foods. These foods pack in lots of flours, sugars, and oils. They can even become addictive for people, and especially for kids. Children not only eat these foods, but they also see a lot of ads for them.
The UNAM study looked specifically at the abilities of children who were already obese. They compared these kids to a group of children who were at a healthy weight for their size and age. The researchers focused only on the effects of obesity. They did not look into why the children became obese or what other habits they had.
Uncovering Brain Connections
Researchers from UNAM’s Faculty of Psychology led this study. They worked with 73 Mexican boys and girls. These kids were between 7 and 12 years old. The evaluations happened at the Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Cognition. What they found about the kids’ brain development, based on their age and weight, was eye-opening.
Academics Dalia RodrÃguez, Karla GarcÃa, and José Luis RodrÃguez were in charge of this project. They explained that their research checked two main brain functions in the chosen children. These were social cognition and executive functions. They wanted to see if the children could perform these functions as expected for their age. They also checked how these abilities related to each child’s weight and height.
The tests helped them look at several areas in children with overweight, obesity, and normal weight. They checked language skills. They looked at how well kids could spot their own feelings and mistakes, and how they reacted to them. They also examined the children’s ability to learn new things and use that knowledge in daily life. The findings clearly showed that kids who carried extra weight had more trouble developing these key skills.
Obesity: A Community Challenge
Beyond the specific brain development findings, the study also shined a light on social and environmental factors. Maura RamÃrez, another scientist involved in the study, pointed this out. She noted a striking pattern: almost 91% of the obese children interviewed said they had close family members who were also obese.
In contrast, only about 35% of children in the healthy weight group reported having family members who were overweight or obese. This suggests that for many children, their weight condition seems normal because their family members share the same issue. It’s pretty clear when you consider that more than 40% of obese children felt their weight was completely normal.
Results Call for Public Action
These study results highlight the impact of obesity on kids’ learning and communication skills. But they also serve as a strong call to action. We need to find the right ways to stop children and teens from becoming overweight. Because of this, ideas like banning junk food in schools are really gaining support.