Neuropsychological assessment and psychological profile in obese adolescents. an experimental study

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Published

2011-04-30

How to Cite

Morcillo Rehberger, M., Hernández Expósito, S., & Morcillo Herrera, L. (2011). Neuropsychological assessment and psychological profile in obese adolescents. an experimental study. Revista De Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, 28(4), 54–62. Retrieved from https://aepnya.eu/index.php/revistaaepnya/article/view/214

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 4 (2011)

Section

Orginial article

Authors

  • M Morcillo Rehberger Dpto. Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna
  • S Hernández Expósito Dpto. Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna
  • L Morcillo Herrera Unidad Docente de Endocrinología, Metabolismo y Nutrición. Dpto. de Medicina Interna. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de La Laguna

Keywords:

Adolescence, neuropsychological assessment, neuropsychological profile, obesity, psychological profile

Abstract

 

 Obesity represents a top-level health problem in developed countries that requires enormous amounts of human and financial resources. According to OMS, obesity and overweight have reached epidemic characters worldwide. From neurobiological approaches, there is considerable agreement in relating high levels of Body Mass Index (BMI) with decreasing volumes of different brain areas. The importance of childhood obesity to mental health and cognitive development has been less studied. In order to clarify this situation raises the following research, which aims to assess core neuropsychological performance and the psychological profile of a sample of adolescents diagnosed with childhood obesity. The study sample consisted of 20 subjects, 8 were part of the experimental group (obese) and 12 were the control group, all with 13 to 16 years. The neuropsychological assessment was performed by applying an extensive testing protocol of cognitive functions. The results showed that obese children have poorer performance in intelligence, processing speed, attention, and working memory. Psychological profile showed that obese subjects and controls did not differ in the personality dimensions assessed by the BASC when the informants was the subjects themselves or parents, but teachers / tutors characterize obsesses with as aggressive, with withdrawal behaviors, somatization and without study skills. This profile shows although with nuances that obesity has an impact on neuropsychological performance of individuals who suffer it.

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