title: Cognitive profile, parental education and BMI in children: reflections on common neuroendrocrinobiological roots.
abstract: Overweight and obesity may be associated with cognitive problems and both may share "neuroendocrinobiological roots" in common cerebral areas. We investigated intellectual performances and a possible "specific cognitive profile" in overweight/obese children. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 898 school children (6 to 13 years) attending primary schools. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-revised (WISC-R) revealed significant differences in performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) scores between body mass index (BMI) subgroups (p < 0.01). Regression analysis identified BMI as the only variable significantly related to PIQ (p < 0.05). Gender (p < 0.05) and parental educational score (p < 0.001) were significantly related to verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ). Parental educational score was the only factor significantly related to total intelligence quotient (TIQ) (p < 0.05). Parental education seems to play a major role in TIQ and VIQ; a lower PIQ score is clearly related to a higher BMI. A routine neurocognitive assessment in overweight/obese children is recommended. Finally, we have added some reflections on common neuroendocrinobiological roots.
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology, Paediatric Sleep Centre and Pediatric Endocrinology Division, Chair of Paediatrics, II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University c/o Sant Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, Rome, Italy. pasquale.parisi@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miano
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernabucci
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents; D012044:Regression Analysis