Executive Function Training in Childhood Obesity: Food Choice, Quality of Life and Brain Connectivity

Executive Function Training in Childhood Obesity: Food Choice, Quality of Life and Brain Connectivity

This study evaluates if executive function training in obese children can improve food-related choices and produce cognitive and neuroimaging changes, but also improve psychological and physical status and quality of life measures.

Based on the limited success of current behavioural weight-loss programmes and coupled with data on executive function deficiencies in obesity, this study aims to explore the impact of executive function training on food-related choices, cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes, but also on the psychological and physical status and quality of life measures.

The specific hypotheses are:

1. Obese children undergoing the training programme will perform better than those receiving the control programme in cognitive, emotional state, physical activity and quality of life measures at the end of the intervention and follow-up at 12 months.
2. Obese children receiving the training programme will take better food-related decisions at the end of the intervention and follow-up at 12 months.
3. Obese children receiving the training programme will show changes in brain connectivity, which will be observable immediately at the end of the intervention and during the follow up period at 12 months.
4. There will be an association between changes in neuroimaging biomarkers and food choice, cognitive, emotional, physical and quality of life outcomes in individuals receiving training.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being obese according to the criteria by Cole et al., (2000)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological, psychiatric or developmental disorder.