Impact of COVID-19 on quality of life in survivors with pulmonary sequelae.

SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection is still under study today, mainly because of its long-term effects. This study aims to analyse health status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in survivors of coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) who have developed pulmonary sequelae. Prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia between February and May 2020. Reviews were conducted at 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge. HRQoL was assessed by administration of the SF-36 questionnaire and data related to medical records and physical examination were also collected. In addition, chest X-ray, computed tomography and pulmonary function test were included as additional tests. 305 patients were admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia of which 130 (42.6%) completed follow-up. The mean age of the enrolled group was 55.9 ± 15.9 years. The most prevalent persistent symptoms were dyspnea (37.3%) and asthenia (36.9%). Pulmonary sequelae were detected in 20.8% of participants. The most frequent alteration was ground ground glass opacities (GGO) (88.9%), with mild extension. Fibrotic changes were found in only 2% of cases. When comparing the two groups, at 3 and 12 months of evolution, lower scores in the vitality (VT) and mental health (MH) domains were found only in the group without sequelae. Days of hospitalisation and Charlson index acted as influential factors on HRQoL. Minimal or mild pulmonary sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 do not cause further deterioration of HRQoL. Repeated medical care and pulmonary rehabilitation are effective tools to improve HRQoL.

Measuring attention of ADHD patients by means of a computer game featuring biometrical data gathering.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed mainly in children, marked by inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The symptoms are highly variable, such as different ages of onset and potential comorbidities, contributing to frequent misdiagnoses. Professionals note a gap in modern diagnostic tools, making accurate identification challenging. To address this, recent studies recommend gamification for better ADHD diagnosis and treatment, though further research is essential to confirm its efficacy. This work aims to create a serious game, namely "Attention Slackline", to assess attention levels. The game, designed with expert input, requires players to concentrate on a specific point to recognize specific patterns while managing distractions. A controlled experiment tested its precision, and results were compared with established attention tests by a correlation analysis. Statistical analysis confirmed the game's validity, especially in tracking attention through correct responses and errors. Preliminary evidence suggests that "Attention Slackline" may serve as a credible instrument for the assessment of attentional capacities in individuals with ADHD, given that its outcomes have been empirically shown to correlate with those derived from a well-established attention assessment methodology.

Actions taken and barriers encountered by professionals working with adults with intellectual disabilities who experience grief: a qualitative approach.

Experience of grief has increased among people with intellectual disability because of their longer life expectancy. Professionals supporting this population are often critical of the lack of adequate tools for dealing with this situation. The objective of this study was to identify the strategies and barriers that these professionals are confronted with when dealing people with intellectual disability who are going through the grieving process. A qualitative study was conducted involving 20 professionals working with people with intellectual disability. Four themes were extracted using thematic analysis: Exclusion of clients from end-of-life and grief processes, Strategies to support the client's grief process, Emotional and personal difficulties faced by the professionals, and Coping and regulation of the professional's grief process. Barriers identified by these professionals include not having the specific skills to support clients in their grief and the emotional impact of the death of a client.

Spanish validation of the simple lifestyle indicator questionnaire: validity and reliability analysis.

Introduction: It has been shown that lifestyle is a highly modifiable determinant having a direct effect on the health status. Therefore, short and simple questionnaires assessing the lifestyle of the general and clinical population are needed to create interventions on behavioral aspects that can improve the health status. The Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ) is a validated health scale in English that combines five lifestyle factors: diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and stress level. The objective of this study was to validate the SLIQ questionnaire in Spanish by analyzing the scale's validity and reliability. Its discriminatory power of the scale was also examined by evaluating the differences in health outcomes according to the levels of adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Methods: The sample consisted of 745 participants with an average age of 39.94 (SD: 16.99). A transcultural adaptation process was carried out to validate the SLIQ questionnaire in the Spanish context, to determinate the structural equivalence of the Spanish version as compared to the English version, and to assess the psychometric properties of the scale. PREDIMED and IPAQ scales were used to analyze the convergent validity of the Spanish version of the SLIQ regarding to diet and exercise, and the questionnaires SF-12 and DASS-21 questionnaires were used to assess the capacity of the Spanish version of the SLIQ to discriminate health status related to different levels of reported lifestyles. Results: Regarding validity, the results indicate significant correlations between the different dimensions of the SLIQ questionnaire and those used as a reference. As for reliability, the test-retest analyses reveal a high temporal consistency for the scores obtained on the questionnaire. Finally, the differences found in anxiety, depression, and quality of life, with regard to the different levels of adherence in the SLIQ questionnaire, suggest that the questionnaire's Spanish version has adequate discriminatory power. Discussion: The obtained correlation coefficients between the SLIQ and the other standardized measures pointed out the adequate convergent validity of the instrument. Moreover, the test-retest results demonstrated the stability of the results obtained through this questionnaire. Finally, the lifestyle categories derived from the SLIQ showed a high ability to discriminate between participants' health profiles. Hence, it can be concluded that the Spanish version of the SLIQ questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for the quick and effective assessment of lifestyle.

Intervención psicológica para el duelo dirigida a cuidadores familiares de adultos con discapacidad intelectual / Psychological intervention for bereavement aimed at family caregivers of adults with intellectual disabilities

El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y aportar datos preliminares de la eficacia de una intervención psicológica para cuidadores familiares de adultos con discapacidad intelectual, con el fin de proporcionarles recursos de afrontamiento para sobrellevar su rol de cuidador y reducir la sobrecarga psicológica y el dolor que conlleva el diagnóstico. Participaron 24 cuidadores, de los cuales 14 fueron asignados a un grupo intervención (GI) y 10 a un grupo control (GC) mediante una aleatorización simple. Se midieron variables de sobrecarga, salud mental y sentimientos de duelo derivados del diagnóstico. Se utilizaron modelos lineales de medidas repetidas para evaluar el efecto del programa. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p< 0,05) en las variables de dolor emocional, aceptación de la pérdida y en la experiencia actual del duelo, mostrando el GI una mejora tras la intervención. Como conclusión, es necesario que este tipo de programas se impartan de forma temprana en estos cuidadores con el fin de evitar el duelo patológico y crónico en el que terminan desembocando frecuentemente. (AU)

A comparative study of differences between parents and teachers in the evaluation of environmental sensitivity.

Introduction: The inextricable bond between humans and the environment underscores the pivotal significance of environmental sensitivity. This innate trait encompasses a wide array of ways individuals perceive, process, and react to various internal and external stimuli. The evaluation of this trait in children is generally conducted by parents. However, little is known about the concordance of the parents reports with those conducted by others, such as teachers. Children's behavior assessment is a current and relevant issue and finding out more positive results could make improvements in different contexts, such as home, clinics and schools. Objective: This study examines agreements and discrepancies between parents and teachers as raters of environmental sensitivity in Spanish children. Methods: Participants were 124 parents and eight teachers of youngsters between 3 and 10 years, who completed a paper survey providing information about parental and school variables and environmental sensitivity. Results: Parents and teachers mostly differ when rating environmental sensitivity, being parents the raters who score higher levels of this trait than teachers. Also, poor intra-class coefficients of reliability are found in both the items of HSCS, the dimensions and the general factor of environmental sensitivity among the informants. Conclusion: The present investigation provides novel findings related to inter-rater assessment on environmental sensitivity and how these different informants could affect in the report. This study also highlights the need of making and validating new and specific tools to assess environmental sensitivity for teachers.

Effectiveness of a Two-Year Multicomponent Intervention for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Older People.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a two-year intervention based on the Mediterranean diet for the treatment of overweight and obesity in a sample of 51 older people from the Mediterranean city of Alicante (Spain). We also examined the effects of the intervention on psychological well-being. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received group nutritional education sessions, an individualized dietary-nutritional treatment based on a Mediterranean diet, and a physical activity program; the control group received Mediterranean nutritional education in a written format. The experimental group showed a greater loss in weight (p = 0.017) and percentage of fat mass (p = 0.049), and a greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.014) and waist circumference (p = 0.010). Both groups improved their depression scores using the PHQ-9; however, no significant improvement was seen in adherence to the Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED) and anxiety level (GAD-7). These results suggest that a two-year intervention based on the Mediterranean diet allows an older population with overweight or obesity to achieve greater weight loss and a greater decrease in BMI, waist circumference, and fat mass percentage. In relation to psychological well-being, depression levels improved at the end of said intervention.

Assessment Strategies to Evaluate the Mediterranean Lifestyle: A Systematic Review.

The Mediterranean Lifestyle (MLS) has been related to better health and quality of life. However, there is no consensus on how to assess this lifestyle. The main objective of this work was to systematically review the methodology used in different studies on the evaluation of the MLS. The specific objectives were (1) to analyze the MLS components evaluated in previous studies, (2) to explore the assessment instruments available for the analysis of the MLS, and (3) to identify the psychometric properties of these instruments. The search was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases with the purpose of identifying those published articles in which the MLS was assessed. The review included 26 studies linked to the assessment of the MLS. Of these studies, only four exclusively used a tool to analyze MLS components globally. These studies included two questionnaires and three different indexes. None of them, however, evaluated all of the recognized MLS components, and food preparation was the least frequently evaluated component. Given the clear importance of analyzing MLS adherence and the lack of consensus in previous research, an evaluation tool needs to be created to comprehensively assess all of the MLS dimensions by means of appropriate psychometric properties.

Impact of COVID-19 on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study in a Spanish Clinical Sample.

SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection and the course of its sequelae remain to be defined. The aim of this study is to analyze health status and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a Spanish sample of survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. METHODS: Prospective observational study of patients who survived SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, between February 2020 and May 2020, with systematic evaluation at 3 and 12 months after the onset of the disease. The data were obtained by reviewing the clinical history and performing a physical examination, a chest X-ray, and a pulmonary function test on the patients. Additionally, the SF-36 questionnaire was administered for the HRQoL study. RESULTS: In total, 130 patients aged 55.9 ± 15.9 years were included. Dyspnea (36.9%) and asthenia (36.2%) were the most frequent persistent symptoms. Fibrotic pulmonary changes were detected in 20.8% of the participants. Compared to the general population, significant deterioration was detected in all domains of the SF-36 questionnaire at 3 and 12 months post-COVID-19 infection. The greatest differences were in the physical role (RF) and in the emotional role (RE). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pneumonia causes a long-term deterioration in HRQoL compared to the general population. Over time, a trend toward improvement is detected in most domains of the SF-36.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Stress and Perceived Classroom Climate in Spanish University Students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several changes in society, especially in the educational context, where several learning methodologies and social interactions have been modified significantly. This fact could have had a negative impact on academic stress levels of students and the classroom climate, especially in the university context. The main aim of the present study was to identify changes in academic stress and the perceived classroom climate caused by COVID-19 in a sample of Spanish university students. Academic stress was evaluated trough the Stressor Academic Scale (SAS) and perceived classroom climate employing the Perceived Classroom Responsibility Climate (PCRC) questionnaire. A longitudinal study was conducted. 135 students (97 females and 38 males) from the Gastronomy (n = 31) and Criminology (n = 104) degrees were evaluated before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Academic stress levels and perceived classroom climate were analyzed before (Time 1) and after (Time 2) the lockdown declaration. An increase in academic stress was found, especially in the categories regarding Teachers' Methodological Deficiencies, Academic Over-Burden and Beliefs About Performances. Females and final year students suffered higher levels of academic stress. No differences were found between Time 1 and 2 in perceived classroom climate. The obtained results point out a significant increase of academic stress in university students due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. The implemented educational changes and the uncertainty that resulted from the pandemic could have a significant negative impact on mental health in this population, resulting in higher levels of academic stress, especially in females and final year students. Future studies should analyze the strategies that students are employing to cope with these educational challenges and intervention strategies to promote them in the context of higher education.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale: The Parent Version.

Environmental sensitivity is the ability to perceive, register and process information about the environment, which differs among children and adolescents. The Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) scale has been used to assess environmental sensitivity in youngsters. The HSC scale is a short and 12-item adapted version of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale. The aim of this pilot study is to transculturally adapt the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) scale, and to analyze its factorial structure, reliability and validity. First, a transcultural adaptation was conducted by bilingual experts. Second, once the questionnaire was translated, the psychometric properties were analyzed. The Spanish version of the HSC scale was administered to parents answering about information of 141 children between 6 and 10 years old. The Spanish version of the Emotionality, Activity and Sociability Survey (EAS) was also applied. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of sensitivity in our Spanish sample. This structure included the following dimensions: (1) Ease of Excitation (EOE), (2) Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and (3) Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES). Moreover, both Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω values indicated that the Spanish version of the HSC scale was a reliable measure of environmental sensitivity, as a general factor of sensitivity (α = 0.84), and even in its three dimensions: EOE (α = 0.86), LST (α = 0.77) and AES (α = 0.73). Finally, the correlations for convergent validity showed positive associations, especially among the three dimensions of SPS and Emotionality (EOE r = 0.351; LST r = 0.274; AES r = 0.259), which was one of the domains of the EAS survey. The pilot study provided interesting results, which showed a reliable and valid replication of the original structure of sensitivity in the Spanish samples.

Evaluation of the lights4violence program: reduction in machismo and acceptance of violence among adolescents in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Machismo and acceptance of violence (AV) against women are part of the social construction of hegemonic masculinity and are related to the risk of dating violence. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the Lights4Violence program in reducing machismo and AV in secondary school students from different European cities. METHODS: Quasi-experimental longitudinal study using a convenience sample of 1,146 high school students from different European cities (12-17 years old) including 575 intervention group students (59.1% girls) and 571 control group students (62.7% girls). We performed linear regression models to identify the effect of the intervention, modelling the difference in means in machismo and AV (dependent variables) between wave-2 and wave-1. RESULTS: An interaction was identified between the group variable and the empathy variable. In wave-2, girls with high empathy at baseline in the intervention group obtained lower mean AV scores (ß: -0.131; p = 0.004). However, the boys in the intervention group (reference: control group) with low empathy at baseline registered a significant increase in the mean values of machismo (ß: 0.247; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The importance of empathy is shown in the effectiveness of interventions to reduce machismo and AV in adolescents. While the Lights4Violence program focuses on promoting healthy relationships, there were some controversial results. It is possible that some children, especially those with less empathy, may have felt "challenged" during the intervention and/or assessment. This suggests the need for the development of interventions that also consider psychological processes and integrate the promotion of positive expressions of masculinity.

Effects of Impulsivity on Competitive Anxiety in Female Athletes: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness Trait.

It has been demonstrated that athletes in competitive sports suffer from high levels of competitive anxiety, especially in the case of females. In this sense, it is necessary to identify possible risk and protective factors of those athletes in this collective who suffer from this type of anxiety. However, few studies analyze the relationship between Physical Activity (PA) and anxiety, identifying the possible mediation effect of trait variables such as impulsivity and mindfulness in female athletes. Hence, the aims of this study were: to determine differences between PA levels with anxiety, mindfulness, and impulsiveness; to identify the predictive value of sociodemographic factors and physical activity, impulsivity, and mindfulness on anxiety factors; and to analyze the possible mediating effects of mindfulness on the relationship between impulsivity and anxiety. A total of 242 female athletes underwent an assessment of physical activity, anxiety, mindfulness traits, and impulsivity using validated questionnaires. Data were analyzed according to (1) individual or collective sport, and (2) PA levels according to energy expended (METs min/day). Participants were grouped by light, moderate, and vigorous PA levels. There were 30.5% elite athletes and 73.2% collective sports athletes. Mean age was 22.1 years and mean light, moderate, and vigorous PA were 86.1 ± 136.2, 114.4 ± 159.8, and 370.1 ± 336.3 METs min/day, respectively. Those athletes performing vigorous PA exhibited lower levels of impulsiveness and higher mindfulness traits. As expected, the mindfulness trait was a mediating factor in the relationship between impulsiveness and each factor of competitive anxiety (cognitive, somatic, and self-efficacy). Female athletes could suffer competitive anxiety, especially those who present higher levels of impulsivity. However, higher levels of mindfulness traits seem to be a protective factor in the effects of impulsivity on anxiety in this population and have demonstrated to be significant mediators in this association. Further studies are needed with other female athletes to replicate these results and to determine the specific protective mechanisms of mindfulness traits in preventing competitive anxiety.

Predicting Alzheimer's disease with practice effects, APOE genotype and brain metabolism.

After the paper Cognition or genetics. Predicting progression to Alzheimer's disease with practice effects, APOE genotype and brain metabolism [Neurobiol Aging, 2018; 71:234-240] was published, we identified a coding error of one of the variables analyzed. To correct, update and expand the previous work, we compared simple and complex regression-based Reliable Change Index (RCIRB) to analyze the risk of progression to AD (AD-risk) after six years using either delayed recall or recognition scores. Auditory Verbal Learning Test scores at six months for 394 individuals with normal cognition from the ADNI were used to build the regression. In 816 individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairments, the AD-risk was associated with age, brain metabolism, APOE-ε4, recognition hits, the discrimination index, and low practice effects in the complex RCIRB only. The complex RCIRB outperformed the simple RCIRB. Small correlations were found between practice effects and both Aß (highest r = 0.218) and TAU (highest r = -0.183). RCIRB are computationally simple and provide sensitive AD-risk estimates in combination with APOE-ε4 and FDG-PET.

Cognitive Functioning and Its Relationship with Self-Stigma in Men with HIV Who Have Sex with Men: The Mediating Role of Health-Related Quality of Life.

INTRODUCTION: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stills remains a serious public health problem. HIV acquisition has several negative health consequences, such as a cognitive deterioration or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment. Although these negative consequences could be directly related to a significant increase in self-stigma in this population, few previous studies have analysed the possible associations between these variables. This is especially the case in specific groups of people living with HIV, such as men who have sex with men who could be at a greater risk of stigmatisation. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between cognitive functioning, HRQoL and self-stigma in a group of men with HIV who have sex with men. METHODS: The present study was conducted in the Infectious Diseases Unit of the General University Hospital of Alicante (Spain). The final sample was composed of 70 participants who passed the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All were men with HIV who had sex with men and the sample's mean age was 45 years. Each participant completed questionnaires on HRQoL and HIV self-stigma. Moreover, they completed an online cognitive assessment through the previously validated platform for cognitive evaluation CogniFit, Inc. RESULTS: The obtained results showed a significant association between memory functioning impairment, lower levels of HRQoL and higher HIV self-stigma scores. Hence, HRQoL, in the mental summary domain, was shown to be a significant mediator in the relationship between low memory performance and higher HIV self-stigma. DISCUSSION: Neurocognitive impairment could decrease HRQoL in men with HIV who have sex with men, and hence, reinforce the idea widespread in society that having HIV holds serious consequences. This fact, together with the reduced cognitive abilities to fight against their own self-stigma could represent plausible explanations of the obtained results. In this sense, intervention strategies, oriented towards reducing cognitive impairment, such as those based on cognitive training, and other psychological interventions to promote HRQoL could be effective approaches to prevent the negative effects of HIV self-stigma in this population.

Effects of a School-Based Intervention for Preventing Substance Use among Adolescents at Risk of Academic Failure: A Pilot Study of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation V2 Program.

Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use are important health problems that contribute greatly to causes of death in worldwide. Early onset of substance use increases rapidly during adolescence and it has been associated with a wide range of adverse events. Because substance use is associated with dramatic consequences, delaying the initiation of substance use among adolescents remains a major public priority. This study examined the effectiveness of a school-based intervention program based on the application of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation V2 (R&R2) program for preventing substance use among adolescents at risk of academic failure. A sample of 142 participants (aged 13-17 years old) who were studying alternative education provision in Spain were randomly allocated to two conditions (68 experimental group, 74 control group). A pre-test survey assessing past and current substance use was conducted prior the implementation of the program, while a post-test survey was conducted about 12 months after the pre-test. The results showed a significant effect of the R&R program in the reduction of cigarette smoking, episodes of drunkenness, alcohol consumption and cannabis use. However, for daily smoking and episodes of drunkenness such benefits showed a reduction over time. These findings offer additional evidence of the effectiveness of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation V2 program in Spanish adolescent students who are exposed to substance use and suggest areas of future research.

Relationship between Sensory Processing and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Sensory processing has been described as the ability to register, modulate, and organize sensory information to respond to environmental demands. Different theoretical approaches have studied the differential characteristics of sensory processing, such as Dunn's model. From this framework, high sensitivity in sensory processing has been described as responses to stimuli from environment quite often due to a rapid activation of the central nervous system. It should be noted that the association between high sensitivity in sensory processing and health outcomes obtained in different studies are not homogeneous, so it is necessary to develop a review of this research in order to clarify the relationship between sensory processing and quality of life. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the relevant studies using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ProQuest databases to assess how sensory processing patterns are related to quality of life. RESULTS: Fourteen studies concerning sensory processing and quality of life were included in the review. Some studies indicate negative, moderate, and significant correlations between these variables in which high sensitivity is related to a poor quality of life in the population studied. CONCLUSIONS: High sensitivity in sensory processing could have a negative impact on quality of life, thereby facilitating a fluctuation in well-being, daily functioning, and health.

Psychometric Properties and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Spanish Version of the Maudsley Violence Questionnaire among Adolescent Students.

The Maudsley Violence Questionnaire (MVQ) is an instrument specifically developed to evaluate violent thinking through two subscales examining macho attitudes and the acceptance of violence. This study analyzed the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Spanish version of the MVQ questionnaire in a large sample of 1933 Spanish adolescents. An online questionnaire was used to collect variables, such as sociodemographic and sexism data. The factor structure showed good fit indices in Spanish adolescents, which were similar to the original scale. The exploratory analysis yielded a first factor that explained 11.3% of the total variance and a second factor that explained 10.8% of the total variance. The Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) (0.902), Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) (0.90), Normed Fit Index (NNFI) (0.85), and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) (0.86) suggested that the model fit the data adequately (with values ≥ 0.90) and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) (≤0.10) values indicative of an adequate fit. This study contributes a Spanish-language validated tool to measure machismo and the acceptance of violence among adolescents.

Effects of the Mediterranean Lifestyle During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: Preliminary Study.

We aim to assess the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean style-diet before and after the period of confinement due to COVID-19 in a sample of 51 older patients who were part of a clinical trial of the Instituto de Investigación sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL, CEIM). Participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: experimental vs. a control group. A pre-test survey assessment was conducted before confinement, while a post-test survey was conducted after the confinement period. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and nutritional status were evaluated through self-reported questionnaires. Individuals who initiated the Mediterranean Diet intervention program before confinement increased 3.5% their level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and maintained their nutritional status after the confinement. In the case of BMI, there no were statistically significant differences between groups before and after confinement. These results suggest that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet may play an important role in the establishment of appropriate dietary guidelines in confinement situations such as the COVID-19.

The Role of BMI, Body Fat Mass and Visceral Fat in Executive Function in Individuals with Overweight and Obesity.

Evidence accumulated to date suggests that excess weight in the adult population is associated with a wide range of impairments in executive function. However, most studies have only examined the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the cognitive function of individuals with overweight and obesity. This study examined the potential associations of markers of adiposity (BMI, body fat, and visceral fat) with five domains of executive function including cognitive flexibility, inhibition, monitoring, planning, and working memory in a sample of 87 adult with overweight (n = 34) and obesity (n = 53). The results show that obese people had poorer working memory than those with overweight. After controlling for educational levels and physical activity, the results suggest that neither the waist-hip index not visceral fat were associated with cognitive function. In overweight, body fat was negatively associated with executive components of inhibition (p = 0.05) and monitoring (p = 0.02). In the obesity subgroup, body fat was negatively associated with inhibition (0.02) and working memory (0.04). The results provide evidence of the importance of adiposity for cognitive function. The implications for understanding the influence of markers of adiposity in adults with overweight and obesity are discussed.