Relationship between Obesity and Cognitive Function in Young Women: The Food, Mood and Mind Study
Table 2
A summary of participant characteristics.
Total group (n = 299)
NW (n = 157)
OB (n = 142)
value
Age (y)
25.8 ± 5.1
24.9 ± 4.6
26.9 ± 5.4
<0.001
Education (y)
16.2 ± 2.2
16.5 ± 2.2
15.9 ± 2.2
0.022
Highest qualification (n, %)
Secondary school
83 (28%)
44 (28%)
39 (27%)
0.028
Certificate/diploma
46 (15%)
15 (10%)
31 (22%)
—
Tertiary degree (bachelor/diploma)
120 (40%)
69 (44%)
51 (36%)
—
Higher degree
49 (17%)
28 (18%)
21 (15%)
—
Weight (kg)
78.1 ± 23.5
59.7 ± 7.0
98.5 ± 17.9
<0.001
Height (cm)
165.4 ± 6.9
165.5 ± 7.3
165.3 ± 6.6
0.805
BMI (kg/m2)
28.6 ± 8.6
21.8 ± 1.7
36.1 ± 6.8
<0.001
Obese class I
79 (26%)
N/A
79 (56%)
—
Obese class II
41 (14%)
N/A
41 (29%)
—
Obese class III
22 (7%)
N/A
22 (15%)
—
Waist circumference (cm)
84.5 ± 18.7
69.7 ± 4.2
101.2 ± 14.1
<0.001
Below 80 cm (n, %)
156 (52%)
154 (98%)
2 (1%)
<0.001
80–88 cm inclusive (n, %)
20 (7%)
3 (2%)
17 (12%)
—
Above 88 cm (n, %)
120 (40%)
0 (0%)
120 (85%)
—
Physical activity (MET-min/wk)
Total MET-min/wk
2603 ± 2141
3076 ± 2302
2080 ± 1815
<0.001
Low MET-min/wk
1137 ± 1190
1246 ± 1234
1017 ± 1131
0.096
Moderate MET-min/wk
499 ± 755
563 ± 809
428 ± 685
0.124
High MET-min/wk
967 ± 1263
1267 ± 1435
636 ± 939
<0.001
CRP (normal range < 5 mg/l)
3.4 ± 4.3
1.4 ± 2.1
5.5 ± 5.0
<0.001
CRP < 5 mg/l (n, %)
233 (78%)
149 (96%)
84 (60%)
<0.001
CRP ≥ 5 mg/l (n, %)
63 (21%)
6 (4%)
57 (40%)
—
Omega-3 index (%)
6.3 ± 1.7
6.8 ± 1.7
5.8 ± 1.6
<0.001
Low: <4% (n, %)
13 (4%)
1 (1%)
12 (8%)
0.002
Safe: 4–8% (n, %)
239 (83%)
125 (83%)
114 (85%)
—
Optimal: >8% (n, %)
36 (12%)
25 (16%)
11 (8%)
—
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (z-score)
−0.12 ± 0.88
−0.33 ± 0.71
0.11 ± 0.98
<0.0001
value for NW versus OB. Missing data: waist circumference (OB: n = 3); O3I (NW: n = 6; OB: n = 5). Obese class I = 30.0–34.9 kg/m2; obese class II = 35.0–39.9 kg/m2; obese class III ≥ 40.0 kg/m2. BMI, body mass index; N/A, not applicable; PA, physical activity; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; min, minute; wk, week; CRP, C-reactive protein.
