Effects of a multicomponent behavioral intervention on impulsivity and cognitive deficits in adolescents with excess weight.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a multidisciplinary behavioral intervention including cognitive behavioral therapy, structured physical activity, and dietary counseling on impulsive personality and cognitive skills and subsequent BMI loss in excess weight adolescents. Forty-two adolescents with excess weight (14 males and 28 females, range 12-17 years), as defined by the International Obesity Task Force Criteria, participated in our study. We used a longitudinal observational design with two assessments: before and after treatment. We collected baseline measures of impulsive personality (UPPS-P scale), cognitive performance (letter number sequencing, Stroop and Iowa gambling task), and biometric parameters. After 12 weeks of intervention, parallel measures were used to determine whether treatment-induced changes in impulsivity and cognition predicted changes in BMI. BMI showed a statistically significant reduction after treatment [from mean (SD) 29.36 (4.51) to 27.31 (4.41), Cohen's d=0.5]. Greater reductions in negative urgency (negative-emotion-driven impulsivity) and greater improvement in cognitive inhibitory control skills were associated with greater reductions in BMI. Because the design was correlational and lacked a control group, future studies should clarify whether these associations reflect a causal effect or just overlapping improvements associated with a third variable (e.g. increases in attention procurement or motivation).
Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Elena
E
Delgado-Rico
Jacqueline S
JS
Río-Valle
Natalia
N
Albein-Urios
Alfonso
A
Caracuel
Emilio
E
González-Jiménez
María J
MJ
Piqueras
Pilar
P
Brandi
Isabel M
IM
Ruiz-López
Inmaculada
I
García-Rodríguez
Miguel
M
Martín-Matillas
Manuel
M
Delgado-Fernández
Cristina
C
Campoy
Antonio
A
Verdejo-García
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013030:Spain; D015431:Weight Loss