Abstract

Introduction: In the average young adult male 15% of body is composed of fat. Increased body fat % impairs cognition in multiple ways. In the previous studies though the effect of body fat % on cognition was studied, the cognition was assessed by single parameter like Auditory reaction time (ART) or Visual reaction time (VRT) or Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) and no study has revealed the effect of gender on the relation between body fat % and cognition. Therefore this study has been under taken to study the effect of body fat% on cognition as assessed by ART, VRT and CFFF in males & females. Aims & Objectives : 1. To study the effect of body fat % on cognition as assessed by ART, VRT & CFFF. 2. To know the effect of gender on the relation between body fat % and cognition. Materials & Methods: The study was conducted on 20 male subjects with mean age 27.4 ±7.5 years and 20 female subjects with mean age 25.65 ± 4.3 years ( P =0.37 ). In all the subjects body fat percentage was measured by Total body fat analyser ( Model no: S T-102) M/S High Cedar Enterprises (Taiwan) Co. Ltd. Cognition was assessed by : 1. Auditory Reaction Time 2. Visual Reaction Time and 3. Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency. These parameters were assessed for males and females separately and the effect of gender on the relation between body fat % and ART,VRT, CFFF was analysed. Results: In males increased body fat % with in normal range is associated with increase in Visual Reaction Time ( r = 0.106) & decrease in Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency ( r = - 0.187) Where as Auditory Reaction Time is unaffected by body fat % (r =0.087) . In females increased body fat % with in normal range is associated with decrease in Visual Reaction Time (r = – 0.11) and increase in Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency (r = +0.123) where as Auditory Reaction Time is unaffected by body fat % (r = 0.075) Conclusion: In our study we have found that, increase in body fat % with in normal range in males is associated with increase in Visual Reaction Time , decrease in Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency. where as in females increase in body fat % with in normal range is associated with decrease in Visual Reaction Time & increase in Critical flicker Fusion Frequency. Auditory Reaction Time is unaffected by body fat % in both males & females.

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