Adolescent body mass index and cognitive performance: a nationwide study of 2.48 million Israeli adolescents
Authors' conclusion
Obesity, is associated with increased odds for a lower cognitive performance, and the inability to fully achieve cognitive potential, regardless of sociodemographic background.
Study context
- Population
- All Israeli-born adolescents aged 16 to ≤20 years at pre-recruitment evaluation for military service, 1967–2018; 1,459,522 males and 1,027,953 females445,385 with parental scores
- Exposure
- Body mass index (BMI) categories vs normal weight
- Outcome
- Cognitive performance by validated IQ-equivalent test, standardized to year- and sex-Z-score; low cognitive score (below 25th percentile)
Methodological detailsnationwide, population-based, Multinomial logistic regression models
- Nationwide
- Population-based
- Multinomial logistic regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Low cognitive score (<25th percentile), male adolescents
Each group vs normal weightOdds ratio (CI)
Underweight
1.45(1.43–1.48)
Overweight
1.13(1.12–1.15)
Mild obesity
1.36(1.33–1.39)
Severe obesity
1.58(1.52–1.64)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Low cognitive score, females
- Similar findings were observed in females
Adjusted models (sociodemographic confounders, coexisting morbidities, parental cognitive scores)
- Point estimates overall consistent in adjusted models, both sexes
Lower-than-expected cognitive score based on parents' data
- Abnormal BMI had higher ORs, depending on obesity severity
Original publication
Adolescent body mass index and cognitive performance: a nationwide study of 2.48 million Israeli adolescents. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 5 July 2023. doi:10.
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