Physical activity for cognitive function in obesity and cancer

Abstract

Obesity and cancer are major public health concerns with increasing prevalence. Individuals with obesity and individuals who have had a cancer diagnosis can have cognitive dysfunction that negatively affects health and wellbeing. Research is needed to establish safe and effective interventions to prevent and manage obesity and cancer-related cognitive changes. Physical activity is a promising approach, but more research is needed to address how its prescription can be optimised to enhance cognitive benefits in people with obesity and people affected by cancer. Two investigations are contained in this thesis, which studied the effects of physical activity on cognitive function among obesity and cancer subpopulations. In Chapter 2, a study that used a systematic review and meta-analytic methodology was conducted to evaluate the evidence on physical activity for cancer-related cognitive impairment in individuals affected by childhood cancer; this study found moderate-certainty evidence that physical activity improves cognitive function in this patient group. In Chapter 3, a secondary analysis of an ongoing study that used a randomised controlled trial design was conducted to test the effects of once- versus thrice-weekly high-intensity interval training for cognitive function in centrally obese adults; this study preliminarily found no evidence to support or refute the use of high-intensity interval training for cognitive function in this patient group. This thesis provided evidence for the use of physical activity to manage cancer-related cognitive changes and potentially address obesity-related cognitive changes.