The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents

J.M.J. Coumans; U.N. Danner; W. Ahrens; A. Hebestreit; T. Intemann; Y.A.  Kourides; L. Lissner; N. Michels; L.A. Moreno; P. Russo; S. Stomfai; T. Veidebaum; R.A.H. Adan

doi:10.1038/ijo.2017.270

The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents

J.M.J. Coumans, U.N. Danner, W. Ahrens, A. Hebestreit, T. Intemann, Y.A. Kourides, L. Lissner, N. Michels, L.A. Moreno, P. Russo, S. Stomfai, T. Veidebaum, R.A.H. Adan

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6 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility, decision-making and weight status as reflected in body mass index (BMI) z-score (zBMI) in European adolescents.

METHODS: In total, 3354 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years from the I,Family cohort completed the questionnaire-based negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to measure emotion-driven impulsiveness in 2013/2014. Furthermore, 1584 adolescents completed the computer-based Bergs Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive inflexibility, and 1780 adolescents completed the Hungry Donkey Test to assess decision-making ability. Anthropometric variables were measured objectively; confounding variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status and country) were assessed using a questionnaire. Mixed-effect regression analyses were conducted for each outcome of the test or questionnaire as a predictor with standardised BMI (zBMI) as the dependent variable in order to investigate association between markers of cognitive functioning and zBMI.

RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, results showed that emotion-driven impulsiveness beta=0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.24, P <0.001) and cognitive inflexibility (beta = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.02, P=0.016) were positively associated with zBMI. However, decision-making ability was not significantly related to zBMI (beta = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.003, P=0.47).

CONCLUSIONS: More emotion-driven impulsiveness and reduced cognitive flexibility were associated with a higher zBMI in adolescents across Europe. These results may indicate that being impulsive in negative situations and having difficulties changing mental sets increase the susceptibility for unhealthy weight development. Reducing impulsivity and training cognitive flexibility seem promising targets for the prevention and intervention programmes of obesity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	655–661
Number of pages	7
Journal	International Journal of Obesity
Volume	42
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.270
Publication status	Published - Apr 2018

Keywords

BODY-MASS INDEX
CHILDHOOD
EPIDEMIC
EXCESS WEIGHT
FUTURE
GAIN
OBESITY
OVERWEIGHT
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
TRENDS
UNITED-STATES

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10.1038/ijo.2017.270

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Coumans, J. M. J., Danner, U. N., Ahrens, W., Hebestreit, A., Intemann, T., Kourides, Y. A., Lissner, L., Michels, N., Moreno, L. A., Russo, P., Stomfai, S., Veidebaum, T., & Adan, R. A. H. (2018). The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents. International Journal of Obesity, 42(4), 655–661. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.270

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title = "The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility, decision-making and weight status as reflected in body mass index (BMI) z-score (zBMI) in European adolescents.METHODS: In total, 3354 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years from the I,Family cohort completed the questionnaire-based negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to measure emotion-driven impulsiveness in 2013/2014. Furthermore, 1584 adolescents completed the computer-based Bergs Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive inflexibility, and 1780 adolescents completed the Hungry Donkey Test to assess decision-making ability. Anthropometric variables were measured objectively; confounding variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status and country) were assessed using a questionnaire. Mixed-effect regression analyses were conducted for each outcome of the test or questionnaire as a predictor with standardised BMI (zBMI) as the dependent variable in order to investigate association between markers of cognitive functioning and zBMI.RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, results showed that emotion-driven impulsiveness beta=0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.24, P <0.001) and cognitive inflexibility (beta = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.02, P=0.016) were positively associated with zBMI. However, decision-making ability was not significantly related to zBMI (beta = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.003, P=0.47).CONCLUSIONS: More emotion-driven impulsiveness and reduced cognitive flexibility were associated with a higher zBMI in adolescents across Europe. These results may indicate that being impulsive in negative situations and having difficulties changing mental sets increase the susceptibility for unhealthy weight development. Reducing impulsivity and training cognitive flexibility seem promising targets for the prevention and intervention programmes of obesity.",

keywords = "BODY-MASS INDEX, CHILDHOOD, EPIDEMIC, EXCESS WEIGHT, FUTURE, GAIN, OBESITY, OVERWEIGHT, PREFRONTAL CORTEX, TRENDS, UNITED-STATES",

author = "J.M.J. Coumans and U.N. Danner and W. Ahrens and A. Hebestreit and T. Intemann and Y.A. Kourides and L. Lissner and N. Michels and L.A. Moreno and P. Russo and S. Stomfai and T. Veidebaum and R.A.H. Adan",

year = "2018",

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doi = "10.1038/ijo.2017.270",

language = "English",

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Coumans, JMJ, Danner, UN, Ahrens, W, Hebestreit, A, Intemann, T, Kourides, YA, Lissner, L, Michels, N, Moreno, LA, Russo, P, Stomfai, S, Veidebaum, T & Adan, RAH 2018, 'The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents', International Journal of Obesity, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 655–661. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.270

TY - JOUR

T1 - The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents

AU - Coumans, J.M.J.

AU - Danner, U.N.

AU - Ahrens, W.

AU - Hebestreit, A.

AU - Intemann, T.

AU - Kourides, Y.A.

AU - Lissner, L.

AU - Michels, N.

AU - Moreno, L.A.

AU - Russo, P.

AU - Stomfai, S.

AU - Veidebaum, T.

AU - Adan, R.A.H.

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility, decision-making and weight status as reflected in body mass index (BMI) z-score (zBMI) in European adolescents.METHODS: In total, 3354 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years from the I,Family cohort completed the questionnaire-based negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to measure emotion-driven impulsiveness in 2013/2014. Furthermore, 1584 adolescents completed the computer-based Bergs Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive inflexibility, and 1780 adolescents completed the Hungry Donkey Test to assess decision-making ability. Anthropometric variables were measured objectively; confounding variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status and country) were assessed using a questionnaire. Mixed-effect regression analyses were conducted for each outcome of the test or questionnaire as a predictor with standardised BMI (zBMI) as the dependent variable in order to investigate association between markers of cognitive functioning and zBMI.RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, results showed that emotion-driven impulsiveness beta=0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.24, P <0.001) and cognitive inflexibility (beta = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.02, P=0.016) were positively associated with zBMI. However, decision-making ability was not significantly related to zBMI (beta = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.003, P=0.47).CONCLUSIONS: More emotion-driven impulsiveness and reduced cognitive flexibility were associated with a higher zBMI in adolescents across Europe. These results may indicate that being impulsive in negative situations and having difficulties changing mental sets increase the susceptibility for unhealthy weight development. Reducing impulsivity and training cognitive flexibility seem promising targets for the prevention and intervention programmes of obesity.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility, decision-making and weight status as reflected in body mass index (BMI) z-score (zBMI) in European adolescents.METHODS: In total, 3354 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years from the I,Family cohort completed the questionnaire-based negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to measure emotion-driven impulsiveness in 2013/2014. Furthermore, 1584 adolescents completed the computer-based Bergs Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive inflexibility, and 1780 adolescents completed the Hungry Donkey Test to assess decision-making ability. Anthropometric variables were measured objectively; confounding variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status and country) were assessed using a questionnaire. Mixed-effect regression analyses were conducted for each outcome of the test or questionnaire as a predictor with standardised BMI (zBMI) as the dependent variable in order to investigate association between markers of cognitive functioning and zBMI.RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, results showed that emotion-driven impulsiveness beta=0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.24, P <0.001) and cognitive inflexibility (beta = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.02, P=0.016) were positively associated with zBMI. However, decision-making ability was not significantly related to zBMI (beta = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.003, P=0.47).CONCLUSIONS: More emotion-driven impulsiveness and reduced cognitive flexibility were associated with a higher zBMI in adolescents across Europe. These results may indicate that being impulsive in negative situations and having difficulties changing mental sets increase the susceptibility for unhealthy weight development. Reducing impulsivity and training cognitive flexibility seem promising targets for the prevention and intervention programmes of obesity.

KW - BODY-MASS INDEX

KW - CHILDHOOD

KW - EPIDEMIC

KW - EXCESS WEIGHT

KW - FUTURE

KW - GAIN

KW - OBESITY

KW - OVERWEIGHT

KW - PREFRONTAL CORTEX

KW - TRENDS

KW - UNITED-STATES

U2 - 10.1038/ijo.2017.270

DO - 10.1038/ijo.2017.270

M3 - Article

SN - 0307-0565

VL - 42

SP - 655

EP - 661

JO - International Journal of Obesity

JF - International Journal of Obesity

IS - 4

ER -

The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents

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Keywords

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