Impulsiveness may help explain childhood obesity

A great deal of attention is being paid to childhood obesity. In the press there are many causes put forth including the rise of fast food, consumption of soda and decrease in activity. Many researchers are trying to identify what role personality might have in this issue. A group of researchers in the Netherlands looked at whether the spontaneous behavior traits of children might be a factor. (Eating Beh 2006:7:315-322)

They looked at a series of psychological tests that are designed to evaluate a child's level of impulsiveness as well as their level of hyperactivity. The 34 participants were taken from a group of obese children participating in a one year residential weight loss program. The group was compared to similar children in a local school. The tests found that obese children are more sensitive to rewards and are inclined to act more impulsively.

Interestingly, they found that the children who had difficulty with impulse control were not felt to be more hyperactive or impulsive during school hours.

The conclusions of the researchers is that obese children showed a "basic problem with impulse control" when compared to lean children. Their observations are in line with other studies showing that obese children prefer an immediate smaller reward over a larger reward that they might have to wait for.

What this means for you:

This study opens the door to more research on helping kids understand how to make choices in eating healthier. Understanding specific triggers of eating appears to be key in this effort.

First posted: December 8, 2006