The Association of Obesity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Relation to Cognitive Flexibility: An Event-Related Potential Study

Endogenous opioid receptors and the feast or famine of maladaptive feeding

Maladaptive feeding comprises unhealthy eating patterns that jeopardize survival, including over- and underconsumption. These behaviors are often coordinated by endogenous opioid receptors (EORs). Here, we explore the involvement of EORs in obesity and anorexia nervosa (AN), two disorders associated with dysregulated feeding behavior and relevant animal models. While seemingly opposing metabo-psychiatric states, our goal is to highlight common circuit and synaptic mechanisms underlying obesity and AN with a focus on EOR functionality. We examine the neural substrates underlying maladaptive feeding and comorbid conditions including pain, suggesting a role for EOR-driven plasticity in the pathogenesis of both obesity and AN.

The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study

Backgrounds and Objectives: Obesity presents a significant global public health challenge and is associated with declines in both general and food-related inhibitory control, crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity progression. An increasing body of research suggests that acute aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise on both general and food-related inhibition in obese adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential impacts and underlying neuroelectronic mechanisms of a single session of aerobic exercise at varying intensities on general and food-related inhibitory functions among young adult males with obesity. Design: A within-subject design comprising three sessions (control, low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise) × three picture types (high-calorie food, low-calorie food, neutral picture) was employed. Methods: Eighteen young adult males with obesity [body mass index (BMI): 34.60 ± 4.21 kg/m2, aged 24.50 ± 5.13 years (Mean ± SD)] were recruited. They participated in three intervention sessions: acute aerobic exercise at low [40-50% maximal Heart Rate (HRmax)], moderate (65-70% HRmax), and a control session (sitting rest), separated by five-day intervals in a counterbalanced order. Following each session, participants performed a food-related Go/No-go task, and EEG recordings (N2 and P3 components) were conducted within 15 min. Results: Moderate-intensity exercise elicited larger N2 amplitudes compared to the control session across different picture types and task conditions. However, there was no significant effect on behavioral indicators or P3 amplitude across sessions. Additionally, food stimuli (both high- and low-calorie) resulted in lower No-go accuracy and smaller N2 amplitudes compared to neutral stimuli. Conclusions: Acute moderate-intensity exercise might influence general and food-related inhibitory function in obese individuals at the neuroelectric stage, potentially by enhancing attentional resources for managing cognitive control and conflict detection. Moreover, reduced N2 amplitudes and No-go accuracy in response to food stimuli compared to non-food stimuli indicate a diminished ability to allocate attentional and neural resources to manage food-related conflicts. However, due to the relatively small sample size, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to the broader population. The pilot test indicated that obese participants had difficulty sustaining high-intensity exercise at 80-90% of their maximum heart rate for a continuous or 20 min period, highlighting potential challenges in exercise adherence at high intensities within this population. Future research is needed to utilize interdisciplinary approaches and multimodal technologies to clarify how exercise influences food-related cognition, appetite regulation, and brain mechanisms in obesity, aiming to better contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Unveiling the neural mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise on inhibitory control among young adults with obesity: Insights from an ERP study

Obesity has become a prominent public health concern worldwide and is associated with adverse cognitive function. Exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, is known to benefit for weight loss and cognitive function. However, whether acute aerobic exercise could yield benefits to obese individuals and the precise brain mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. The study aimed to investigate whether acute aerobic exercise could improve inhibitory control among obese individuals and what neuroelectric mechanisms are implicated. A 3 (session: control, low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise) × 2 (congruency: congruent, incongruent) within-subject design was conducted. 18 obese young male adults underwent three sessions of 30-min interventions in a counterbalanced order seperated by five days: moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MIE), low-intensity aerobic exercise (LIE) and a control session (a sedentary period of seated rest). The Flanker task and EEG recordings (N2 and P3 amplitude) were investigated following exercise and the control treatment. Results showed that the N2 amplitude following MIE was larger than the control session, whereas a larger N2 and reduced congruent P3 amplitude was observed following MIE than LIE. However, no main effect of the session was found for reaction time and accuracy, but a significant main effect of congruency was observed. These findings suggest acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may modulate brain activity through enhanced recruitment of attentional resources for cognitive control and conflict monitoring in adults with obesity.

Food-related inhibitory control deficits in young male adults with obesity: Behavioral and ERP evidence from a food-related go/no-go task

PURPOSE

Obesity poses a pervasive challenge to global public health, which is linked to adverse physical health outcomes and cognitive decline. Cognitive function, particularly food-related cognitive function, plays a critical role in sustaining a healthy weight and mitigating the progression of obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral and neuroelectronic aspects of food-related inhibitory functions in young adult males with obesity.

METHODS

Forty-nine participants with obesity and healthy-weight were recruited (BMI = 35.83 ± 5.06 kg/m2 vs. 22.55 ± 1.73 kg/m2, age = 24.23 ± 4.55 years vs. 26.00 ± 3.97 years). A food-related Go/No-go task which included 6 distinct blocks in a randomized order was conducted to investigate the general and food-related inhibitory control. 180 stimulus images from the Food Picture Database encompassing high-calorie food, low-calorie food, and neutral images were selected. Behavioral (Go RT, Go ACC, No-go ACC) and event-related potential measures (N2 and P3 amplitude) during the food-related Go/No-go task were measured.

RESULTS

The main findings indicated that the group with obesity exhibited lower No-go accuracy, slower go reaction times, and smaller P3 amplitudes in high-calorie, low-calorie foods, and neutral picture, compared to the normal-weight group, but with no group difference in N2. Additionally, high-calorie food induced larger N2 and P3 amplitude than the neutral stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

Young male adults with obesity exhibit poorer inhibitory control in both food and non-food domains, specifically in slower reaction time and reduced accuracy, featuring difficulties in neural resource recruitment during the inhibitory control process. Additionally, the P3 component could serve as sensitive indicators to reveal the neural mechanisms of inhibitory control deficits in obesity, while the N2 and P3 components may differentiate the neural differences between high-calorie foods and non-foods in inhibitory control processing. Food, especially high-calorie food, induces more neural resources and may exacerbate the poor inhibitory ability towards food in obesity. Targeted interventions such as exercise interventions, cognitive training as well as neuromodulation interventions are warranted in the future to improve impaired general and food-related inhibitory functions in the obese populations, offering both theoretical and practical frameworks for obesity prevention and treatment.

Acute high-intensity interval exercise improves food-related cognition in young adults with obesity: An ERP study

Purpose Cognitive function, particularly food-related cognition, is critical for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing the acceleration of obesity. High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) is an increasingly popular form of exercise and has been shown to improve physical fitness and cognitive function. However, there is limited research on the effects and underlying mechanisms of HIIE on general and food-related cognition among adults with obesity. The aim of the current study was to examine the influence of a single bout of HIIE on food-related cognition among young adults with obesity. Methods Fifteen young men with obesity (BMI = 33.88 ± 4.22, age = 24.60 ± 5.29 years) were recruited. Participants took part in a HIIE condition consisting of 30 minutes of stationary cycle exercise (5-min warm-up, 20-min HIIE and 5-min cool down), and a control session consisting of a time and attention-matched period of sedentary rest in a counterbalanced order. Behavioral (reaction time and accuracy) and event-related potential measures (P3 and the late positive potential, LPP) elicited during a food-related Flanker task were measured after the HIIE and control session. Results Shorter response times were observed following HIIE, regardless of congruency or picture type, with no change in accuracy. Increased P3 and LPP amplitudes were observed following HIIE relative to the control session. Conclusion The findings suggest a single bout of HIIE has a beneficial effect on general and food-related cognition among young adults with obesity, with increased recruitment of cognitive resources to support cognitive control. Future research is warranted to examine the dose-response relationship between acute bouts or longer participation in HIIE on food-related cognition in obesity.

Examining Relationships between Cognitive Flexibility, Exercise Perceptions, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Adults do not engage in enough physical activity. Investigating cognitive and physiological factors related to improving this behavior-and reducing health risks-remains a public health priority. Our objective was to assess whether cognitive flexibility influenced perceptions and choice of exercise programs and whether flexibility was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Independent sample groups of college-aged adults (18-24 yrs) participated in two studies. Data were collected on individuals' degree of cognitive flexibility (both self-reported and objectively measured), perceptions and choice of exercise programs, and health status markers known to be associated with CVD (vascular function, muscular strength, and body composition). Vascular function was assessed with a near-infrared spectroscopy device, strength was defined as handgrip, and body composition was estimated via digital circumferences. Self-reported flexibility reliably predicted individuals' choice of exercise program and perceptions of effort required for success on an exercise program. The relationships among CVD risk factors and objectively measured cognitive flexibility were not significant, demonstrating that identifying a healthy individual's degree of performance-based cognitive flexibility does not predict health status. Furthermore, although greater self-reported trait flexibility (rigidity) is known to predict higher (lower) likelihood of physical activity, this finding should not be extrapolated to also assume that flexibility (rigidity), as measured by objective cognitive tests, is associated with reduced CVD risk in healthy adults. We posit a rationale for how understanding cognitive flexibility and rigidity can play an impactful role in improving adherence to exercise prescriptions targeted to reducing risks.