Cognitive development and morbid obesity

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The etiology of early onset morbid obesity is not clear. In some cases, it is due to a genetic or syndromic cause such as with Prader-Willi syndrome. Miller et al report an evaluation of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, children with early onset morbid obesity of unknown cause, and siblings from both groups who served as controls. They found that those with early onset obesity had significantly lower cognitive function and more behavioral problems than controls. Cognitive function for the early onset obesity group was intermediate between the patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and controls.

Also of interest is that white matter brain lesions were found in both patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and those with non-syndromic early onset obesity. These lesions have not been previously described. Because this was a cross-sectional study, it is unclear whether cognitive impairment precedes the development of obesity. Further research will help to define the role of neurocognitive impairment in obesity development.

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