Preschool thinking skills linked to weight

[Chris_]

Preschool thinking skills linked to weight

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Smarter youngsters may be less apt to be overweight, a new study hints.

In the study, researchers from Spain found that preschool kids with above average language, number, and puzzle solving skills were less likely to be overweight two years later when they were old enough to enter school.

A growing body of evidence points to a link between being overweight and having poor thinking, or "cognitive" skills. This led Dr. Monica Guxens, at the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, and colleagues, to look for associations between cognitive function and weight in a group of preschool-age boys and girls.

They report, in the American Journal of Epidemiology, that kids functioning at a higher cognitive level at the age of 4 were less likely to be overweight when they were 6 years old.

However, due to the low variability in body weight among the preschool children in this study, the researchers were unable to determine whether higher, early-age thinking skills actually protect a child from being overweight when older.

Further evidence that with enough time and money, "researchers" can "prove" anything.

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[vesta111]

Further evidence that with enough time and money, "researchers" can "prove" anything.

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How does one apply for a government grant to do research on any subject.?

For around $200,000 I am willing to do a 5 year project on how cars react to Cat Nip, why they react and how different breeds from the Lion to my Maine Coons differ in action.

Say, has anyone ever given one of the big big zoo cats cat nip.?

[thundley4]

How does one apply for a government grant to do research on any subject.?

For around $200,000 I am willing to do a 5 year project on how cars react to Cat Nip, why they react and how different breeds from the Lion to my Maine Coons differ in action.

Say, has anyone ever given one of the big big zoo cats cat nip.?

I'm pretty sure that cars don't react to cat nip in any way whatsoever.

[jtyangel]

Well perhaps that is because overweight children may be less likely to get the kind of attention that normal weight kids too? Perhaps they are parked longer in front of the tv instead of being active outside?

[thundley4]

Well perhaps that is because overweight children may be less likely to get the kind of attention that normal weight kids too? Perhaps they are parked longer in front of the tv instead of being active outside?

That's kind of what I was thinking.  The overweight kids are parked in front of the TV as a babysitter.  I'd be curious to see the study break down along economic lines.

[Chris_]

I'm pretty sure that cars don't react to cat nip in any way whatsoever.

Oh yeah?  Dump a couple of pounds of the stuff down the gas tank and see if it reacts.