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Physical Fitness, Obesity, and Decision Making

Landers, Jacob David
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492692043678457

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Obesity is a major public health concern with over a third of Americans considered obese, as defined by a BMI equal to or greater than 30. Obesity is associated with risky decision making which may lead to less engagement in activities that promote weight loss, including diet and physical activity. Engagement in physical activity is associated with less risky decision making and improved executive control. However, the current literature provides limited comparisons of non-obese adults and obese, weight-loss seeking adults on tasks of decision making. The literature also includes limited evaluation of how physical fitness relates to hot decision making, or decision making under ambiguity, and cold decision making, or decision making under risk. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate differences in decision making among non-obese and obese individuals, and to evaluate the relationship of obesity, physical fitness, and decision making. Obese participants (n=50) were recruited and assessed during orientation to a university-based behavioral weight management program, and non-obese participants (n=40) were recruited from the community. All participants completed a demographics questionnaire and four computerized tasks of decision making. Study personnel calculated BMI via height and weight measurements for all participants. Data concerning body fat percentage and meters walked on a 12-minute walk test were collected from obese participants’ patient files. The sample was primarily female (84.4%), and Caucasian (84.4%) with an average age of 42.9 (¿11.9) years and an average BMI of 36.3(¿13.9). Pearson correlations, analyses of variance, chi-square analyses, and the PROCESS macro in Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.2 were used to analyze data. Results provide preliminary evidence for physical fitness as a mediator in the relationship between obesity and decision making such that higher BMI is associated with a riskier decision making, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task, via physical fitness. However, results provide no evidence for physical fitness as a moderator in the relationship between obesity and decision making, nor a difference between obese and non-obese participants in decision making. Results of this study suggest physical fitness may play in important role in the relationship between obesity and risky decision making. Contrary to prior studies, a difference in decision making was not observed between obesity groups. It is notable that the severity of BMI in the obese group (mean 46.8¿9.7) is largely unexplored in the decision making literature. Thus, future research is needed to better understand decision making among severely obese individuals, the degree to which obesity may be influenced by interventions targeting decision making, and the influence of physiological factors on decision making processes (e.g., chronic inflammation, vagus nerve activity).
Charles Emery (Advisor)
Melissa Buelow (Committee Member)
Julian Thayer (Committee Member)
99 p.
Psychology
physical fitness; obesity; decision making; physical activity; exercise; obese; weight loss; weight management; executive control; cognitive function; cross-sectional; observational; mediation; moderation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Landers, J. D. (2017). Physical Fitness, Obesity, and Decision Making [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492692043678457

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Landers, Jacob. Physical Fitness, Obesity, and Decision Making. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492692043678457.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Landers, Jacob. "Physical Fitness, Obesity, and Decision Making." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492692043678457

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1492692043678457
390
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