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Bidirectional Causal Relationships between Obesity and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents: A Genetic Instrumental Variable Analysis

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Title: Bidirectional Causal Relationships between Obesity and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents: A Genetic Instrumental Variable Analysis
Language: English
Authors: Jia Zheng (ORCID 0000-0003-1382-5135), Yanan Ma (ORCID 0000-0003-0385-8929), Xuxiu Zhuang, Wenhan Jia, Xiao Tang, Enrui Dai, Yang Liu, Deliang Wen (ORCID 0000-0002-4038-3849)
Source: Developmental Science. 2026 29(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Abstract Reasoning, Cognitive Ability, Executive Function, Cognitive Tests, Short Term Memory, Reaction Time, Interference (Learning), Obesity, Children, Adolescents, Genetics, Biological Influences, Adjustment (to Environment), Inhibition
Geographic Terms: China
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Trail Making Test, Digit Span Test, Stroop Color Word Test
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70158
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: This study examines the causal relationship between obesity and executive function (EF)--including cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory--using genetic instrumental variable analysis. A bidirectional two-stage least squares (2SLS) analysis was conducted in 406 children and adolescents. EF was measured by standard cognitive tests, and polygenic risk scores were used as genetic instruments, adjusting for key covariates. Higher BMI causally impaired cognitive regulation, significantly affecting perseverative responses (β = -0.25), categories completed (β = 0.21), TMT-A (β = -0.24), and TMT-B (β = -0.37). No causal effect of EF deficits on obesity was observed. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the unidirectional impact of obesity on cognitive flexibility. Obesity causally impairs cognitive flexibility in youth, highlighting the importance of obesity prevention for cognitive health. Genetic findings should be interpreted with caution due to sensitivity to polygenic risk score construction. Further research should explore gene--environment interactions in larger samples.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504456
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
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  Data: Bidirectional Causal Relationships between Obesity and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents: A Genetic Instrumental Variable Analysis
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jia+Zheng%22">Jia Zheng</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1382-5135">0000-0003-1382-5135</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yanan+Ma%22">Yanan Ma</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0385-8929">0000-0003-0385-8929</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xuxiu+Zhuang%22">Xuxiu Zhuang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wenhan+Jia%22">Wenhan Jia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiao+Tang%22">Xiao Tang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Enrui+Dai%22">Enrui Dai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang+Liu%22">Yang Liu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deliang+Wen%22">Deliang Wen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4038-3849">0000-0002-4038-3849</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Science%22"><i>Developmental Science</i></searchLink>. 2026 29(3).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 12
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Abstract+Reasoning%22">Abstract Reasoning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Ability%22">Cognitive Ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Executive+Function%22">Executive Function</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Tests%22">Cognitive Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Short+Term+Memory%22">Short Term Memory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reaction+Time%22">Reaction Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interference+%28Learning%29%22">Interference (Learning)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Obesity%22">Obesity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genetics%22">Genetics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biological+Influences%22">Biological Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjustment+%28to+Environment%29%22">Adjustment (to Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inhibition%22">Inhibition</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Wisconsin+Card+Sorting+Test%22">Wisconsin Card Sorting Test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Trail+Making+Test%22">Trail Making Test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Digit+Span+Test%22">Digit Span Test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Stroop+Color+Word+Test%22">Stroop Color Word Test</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/desc.70158
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  Data: 1363-755X<br />1467-7687
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  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study examines the causal relationship between obesity and executive function (EF)--including cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory--using genetic instrumental variable analysis. A bidirectional two-stage least squares (2SLS) analysis was conducted in 406 children and adolescents. EF was measured by standard cognitive tests, and polygenic risk scores were used as genetic instruments, adjusting for key covariates. Higher BMI causally impaired cognitive regulation, significantly affecting perseverative responses (β = -0.25), categories completed (β = 0.21), TMT-A (β = -0.24), and TMT-B (β = -0.37). No causal effect of EF deficits on obesity was observed. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the unidirectional impact of obesity on cognitive flexibility. Obesity causally impairs cognitive flexibility in youth, highlighting the importance of obesity prevention for cognitive health. Genetic findings should be interpreted with caution due to sensitivity to polygenic risk score construction. Further research should explore gene--environment interactions in larger samples.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1504456
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        Value: 10.1111/desc.70158
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Abstract Reasoning
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Ability
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      – SubjectFull: Executive Function
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      – SubjectFull: Obesity
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Inhibition
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