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. 2020 Sep;15(9):e12655.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12655. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Executive function phenotypes in pediatric obesity

Marissa Gowey  1 , David Redden  1 , Crystal Lim  2 , David Janicke  3 , Gareth Dutton  1
Affiliations

Executive function phenotypes in pediatric obesity

Marissa Gowey et al. Pediatr Obes. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To comprehensively examine the behavioral phenotypes of children with and without executive function (EF) impairments in a clinical sample of youth with obesity.

Methods: Youth aged 8 to 17 years (Mean age = 12.97) attending a medical clinic for obesity and their caregivers (N = 195 dyads) completed a battery of behavioral questionnaires. Caregiver-proxy report of EF was assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Latent Class Analysis was conducted to identify EF groupings. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests were conducted to examine associations between EF groups and behavioral phenotypes.

Results: Four latent classes of EF impairment were identified (No/Low Impairment; Behavioral Regulation Impairment; Metacognition Impairment; Global Impairment). There was an overall positive pattern of associations between these EF groups and behavioral/emotional symptoms, such that behavioral/emotional symptoms tended to increase with EF impairment.

Conclusions: Children with obesity and EF impairment demonstrate a dysregulated behavioral phenotype ranging from internalizing to externalizing behavioral and weight-related symptoms. This phenotype framework may be clinically beneficial for utilizing screening/assessment results to develop, tailor, and/or match treatment approaches in pediatric obesity.

Keywords: adolescents; children; executive function; obesity; parents; phenotypes.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Portions of this work were previously presented in an oral presentation as part of a symposium at The Society of Pediatric Psychology’s 2018 annual conference in Orlando, FL. The authors have no competing financial interests to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Comparison of AIC and BIC model fit by number of groups. AIC, Akaike information criterion; BIC, Bayes information criterion
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Latent class analysis model: 4-Group (N = 195). BRIEF, behavior rating inventory of executive function
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Child behavioral and emotional problems, parent-proxy report. PSC-17, Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
A, Dysregulated eating episodes, parent-proxy report. B, Dysregulated eating episodes, child self-report. Dysregulated eating episodes assessed with the questionnaire of eating and weight patterns-adolescent and -parent
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
A, Physical HRQoL; B, Emotional HRQoL; C, Social HRQoL; D, School HRQoL. HRQoL, Health-related quality of life
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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