Correlation between body mass index and executive function in female paramedical students- an observational study

Background

Executive Function include cognitive flexibility, working memory and inhibitory control, which are critical for academic performance and daily functioning in populations involved in cognitively demanding sectors, like paramedical students, where high levels of cognitive functioning are necessary to succeed in their training, the study of executive function is especially relevant. While BMI is associated with physical health outcomes, emerging evidence suggests that it may also be linked to cognitive function. However, research on this relationship within specific populations, such as female paramedical students, remains limited.

Aim

To determine the correlation between body mass index and executive function among female paramedical students.

Objective

To determine the correlation between body mass index and executive function among female paramedical students using TMT-B test.

Methodology

A correlational study was conducted among 90 healthy female paramedical students in which underweight, normal weight, overweight, between the age of 18–25 years. Samples were collected by screening the inclusion and exclusion criteria. As an outcomes TMT-B for executive function were assessed.

Results

To analyze the collected data spearman’s correlational analysis was used. The result indicated a positive moderate correlation between underweight and executive function ( P = 0.001,r = 0.493), no correlation between normal weight and executive function (r = 0.028, P = 0.001,r = 0.028), negative low correlation between overweight and executive function (r = P = 0.001, r= -0.264).

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that there is a weak negative correlation between BMI and executive function in young female paramedical students who are overweight, no correlation between normal weight and executive function, and a moderate positive correlation between BMI and executive function for underweight students.These findings suggest that maintaining a healthy BMI could be important not only for physical health but also for cognitive functioning, which is critical in academic and professional settings.