Neurocognitive measures of impulsivity: explanatory, diagnostic and a prognostic role in obesity
Abstract
Obesity is a growing public health problem with multiple aetiological factors. Behavioural determinants are likely to be key contributors to obesity, with a need for applied research in this field. Recently the obesity has been compared to food addiction with the connotation that obese individuals are impulsive in their behaviour. Impulsivity is a trait that is closely linked to addiction and has been studied in personality, psychiatry and more recently in the neurocognitive arena. A conceptual review of the construct of impulsivity identified inhibitory control (SST) and temporal discounting (TD) as two key behavioural constructs universal to all the key fields of impulsivity research. A systematic review of the literature supported their use to profile participants based on their Body Mass Index. The validity of the tools were proven by endophenotyping participants (N=202) of both normal weight and those seeking weight loss intervention. Both measures could successfully differentiate between obese and normal weight adolescents (N=85). The SST was also prognostic for short-term weight reduction in adolescents attending a lifestyle intervention, with the TD being able to predict weight loss maintenance at 6 months. The tasks could not differentiate significantly between adults of different weights but the TD was able to predict weight reduction after surgery (N=90). The modifiability of obesity through neuronal dopamine pathways was supported by a randomised controlled trial…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 202 participants or records.
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