Depressive symptoms and poorer performance on the Stroop Task are associated with weight gain

Abstract

Objective: Executive function impairments and depression are associated with obesity but whether they predict weight gain is unclear.

Methods: Forty-six individuals (35m, 37±10y) completed the Stroop Task, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-SR), Physical Anhedonia Scale (PAS), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Body composition (DXA) and fasting glucose were also measured. Data from return visits were used to assess changes in weight.

Results: Poorer Stroop and WCST performance associated with higher BMI whereas poorer IGT and WCST performance associated with higher body fat (%; all p's≤0.05). Stroop interference (p=0.04; p=0.05) and IDS-SR (p=0.06; p=0.02) associated with increased BMI and weight gain (%/yr). In a multivariate linear model Stroop interference (β=0.40, p<0.01; β=0.35, p<0.01) and IDS-SR (β=0.38, p<0.01; β=0.37, p<0.01) independently predicted increased BMI and weight gain (%/yr) even after controlling for baseline weight and glucose levels.

Conclusions: Poorer response inhibition and depressive symptoms, but not glucose levels, predicted weight gain. Evaluating neurocognitive and mood deficits could improve current treatment strategies for weight loss. Clinical Trial Registration Numbers NCT00523627, NCT00342732, NCT01224704. clinicaltrials.gov.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Depression; Mood disorders; Obesity; Psychopathology.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

No conflict.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Figures

Fig. 1.

A) Associations between BMI (kg/m2) and Stroop interference scores (r = 0.29; p = 0.05), B) between percent body fat (%) and IGT scores (r = − 0.37; p = 0.01) Unadjusted Pearson correlation coefficients are shown.

Fig. 2.

Associations between percent weight change per year (A) Stroop interference scores (r = 0.29; p = 0.05) and (B) depressive symptomatology (r = 0.34; p = 0.02). Unadjusted Pearson correlation coefficients are shown.

Fig. 3.

Associations between percent BMI change per year and (A) Stroop interference scores (r = 0.30; p = 0.04) and (B) depressive symptomatology (r = 0.29; p = 0.06). Unadjusted Pearson correlation coefficients are shown.