Comparison of Executive Functioning in Obese and Normal Weight Elderly Women

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Abstract

Obesity is a heterogeneous chronic disorder that has many causes, although the basic cause is the imbalance between intake energy and energy consumption. The effects of obesity appear on a wide range of issues including interpersonal problems, mental disorders, suicide, and academic performance. The purpose of this study is to compare set-shifting and sustained attention in obese and normal weight elderly women. The method of this study, based on comparison of executive functioning in two groups, is causal-comparative and case-control type. Research sample consists of 100 obese and normal weight elderly women who were selected through targeted sampling method. The tools used in this study included Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) of sustained attention. After the completion of the test sessions, the results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference between obese and normal weight women in terms of set-shifting and sustained attention. This means that obese elderly are more likely to suffer from executive functional impairment and weaker active memory. Implementing obesity prevention programs and promoting healthy lifestyles that prevent obesity can be a protective factor against such disorders, especially among the elderly.
 

Keywords


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