Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435194
Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Body mass index, cortical thickness and executive function in late childhood

Author
item NA, XIAOXU - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item LARSON-PRIOR, LINDA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item OU, XIAWEI - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: BMC Pediatrics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2025
Publication Date: 12/13/2025
Citation: Na, X., Larson-Prior, L., Ou, X. 2025. Body mass index, cortical thickness and executive function in late childhood. BMC Pediatrics. 26:Article 46(2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-06404-y.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-06404-y

Interpretive Summary: Childhood overweight/obesity is prevalent in the United States and is a prominent health concern. In this study, we aimed to investigate relationships between childhood obesity assessed by body mass index (BMI) percentile, brain cortical structure assessed by neuroimaging, and executive functions assessedby standardized tests in children aged 10-12. Negative associations between BMI percentile and brain cortical development in frontal and temporal lobes of the brain which are important for cognitive and executive functions and positive associations between brain cortical development and executive functions were identified, indicating potential adverse effects of childhood obesity on brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Technical Abstract: Background: Childhood overweight/obesity is prevalent in the United States and is a prominent health concern. In this study, we aimed to investigate relationships between child body mass index (BMI) percentile and brain cortical structure that may impact executive functions in late childhood. Methods: Seventy-seven children (43 with normal weight, 23 girls and 20 boys; 34 with overweight/obesity, 16 girls and 18 boys) were included and underwent a brain MRI as well as an assessment of executive functions by Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). Brain cortical features including thickness, surface area, volume, and local gyrification index were extracted from the MRI. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between child BMI percentile and regional cortical features, and between cortical features and executive functions, with appropriate multiple comparison corrections. We also controlled for several maternal and family socioeconomic parameters which are potential confounders. Results: Significant negative associations were identified between BMI percentile and cortical thickness in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG-L) ('= -0.0022 FDR-corrected P=0.04), left rostral middle frontal gyrus (RMFG-L) ('= -0.0016, FDR-corrected P=0.03), and right fusiform gyrus (FFG-R) ('= -0.0019, FDR-corrected P=0.04). Furthermore, positive associations between cortical thickness and motor speed subscale in D-KEFS were identified in the ITG-L ('=5.23, P=0.006) and MFG-L ('=8.22, P=0.005). Conclusions: Associations between BMI percentile, brain cortical structure in frontal and temporal lobes, and executive functions were found in children aged 10-12 years. Our results indicate that body weight status during childhood may potentially impact brain cortical development that is associated with executive functions in school age children.