Impulsivity, Set Shifting and Attributional Style in Obese and Non-Obese Females: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Obesity has adverse effects on health, as excess fat accumulates in the body. It leads to reduced life expectancy and increases other health issues. Executive functions and personality factors play important role as they are determinants of eating behaviour of a person, thus affecting the risk of obesity. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to find out how obese adult females differ from their non-obese counterparts in terms of impulsivity, set shifting ability and attributional style. Material and Methods: The present study aimed to find out how obese adult females differ from their non-obese counterparts in terms of impulsivity, set shifting ability, and attributional style. A cross-sectional, comparative pilot study employing the purposive sampling method was conducted. The study samples were collected from a hospital setup. Thirty individuals participated, with 15 in each group, divided on the basis of body mass index (BMI). The obese group had been characterised by BMI ≥25kg/m 2 . They were assessed by the Stroop Colour Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Attributional Style Questionnaire. Results: Obese and non-obese females differed significantly in terms of impulsivity and set shifting ability. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the global/specific attribution domain of the good outcome achievement goal score. Conclusion: Obese females appeared more impulsive, had a deficit in cognitive flexibility, and feedback utilization. This might have played an important role in the difficulty in response inhibition, narrowing down their thinking process, and affecting their reception of environmental feedback. This, in turn, makes it difficult for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and leads to a relapse of obesity.