Researchers created and tested a new brain-training program designed to help adults with obesity improve their thinking skills. The program focuses on six areas of brain function that often struggle when someone has obesity, including memory, attention, and problem-solving. A small study of 22 people—including experts and people with obesity—found that the program was practical, acceptable, and seemed to work. The six-session program, each lasting about 40-45 minutes, could help people stick to their weight loss treatments better by strengthening the brain skills they need to make healthy choices.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can a brain-training program help people with obesity improve their thinking skills and stick to weight loss plans?
  • Who participated: The study included 22 people total: 12 experts (doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, and psychiatrists) and 10 adults with obesity who had trouble with thinking and memory skills.
  • Key finding: The researchers created a 6-session brain-training program that appears to be practical, acceptable to users, and effective at improving thinking skills in people with obesity.
  • What it means for you: If you struggle with obesity and find it hard to stick to weight loss plans, this brain-training program may help by strengthening the thinking skills you need to make better choices. However, this is early research, so more testing is needed before it becomes widely available.

The Research Details

The researchers followed a step-by-step process to create and test their brain-training program. First, they talked to people with obesity and experts to understand what thinking problems were most important to fix. Then they created the program materials—six sessions targeting different brain skills. Next, they had experts review the program to make sure it was accurate and complete. Finally, they tested it with 10 people who had obesity to see if it actually worked and if people liked using it.

The program focuses on seven different thinking skills: understanding abstract ideas, seeing how things fit in space, holding information in your mind temporarily, paying attention, using language, remembering things after time passes, and planning and organizing. Each session takes about 40-45 minutes and includes exercises to strengthen these skills.

This approach is called ‘program development and validation,’ which means the researchers didn’t just test an existing program—they built it from scratch based on what people actually needed.

When someone has obesity, their brain often doesn’t work as well in certain areas, which makes it harder to stick to weight loss plans and make healthy choices. By specifically training these weak thinking areas, the program could help people succeed better at weight management. This is important because many weight loss programs fail because people can’t stick to them, not because the programs themselves are bad.

This is an early-stage study that shows the program is practical and seems to work, but it’s not definitive proof yet. The sample size is small (only 10 people with obesity tested it), so results might not apply to everyone. The study was well-designed using established methods for creating new health programs. Experts from different fields reviewed the program, which strengthens confidence in its quality. However, larger studies with more participants are needed to confirm these findings.

What the Results Show

The researchers successfully created a 6-session brain-training program that targets seven different thinking skills. Experts from psychology, medicine, psychiatry, and nutrition reviewed the program and confirmed it was accurate, complete, and well-designed. When 10 people with obesity tried the program, they found it practical and acceptable—meaning people could actually do it and liked doing it.

The program appears to be effective at improving the thinking skills it targets. Each session focuses on specific brain areas: one session on abstract thinking, another on memory, another on attention, and so on. By the end of the six sessions, participants showed improvements in these areas.

The researchers found that the program was feasible, meaning it could realistically be used in hospitals and clinics. The 40-45 minute session length was manageable for participants, and the structure worked well in a real healthcare setting.

The study also showed that people with obesity were willing to participate in a brain-training program, suggesting there’s interest in this type of treatment. The fact that experts from different medical fields all agreed the program was good quality suggests it’s well-rounded and based on solid science. The program’s focus on multiple thinking skills rather than just one area appears to be important for helping people manage their weight.

This research builds on earlier findings showing that obesity affects brain function in areas like memory, attention, and decision-making. Previous studies showed these brain problems make weight loss harder, but few programs specifically targeted fixing these problems. This program is one of the first to directly address cognitive deficits in people with obesity as a way to improve weight management success.

The biggest limitation is the small sample size—only 10 people with obesity actually tested the program. Results from such a small group may not apply to everyone. The study didn’t compare the program to other treatments, so we don’t know if it’s better than existing options. This was a very early testing phase, so we don’t yet know how well the program works over the long term or how much it actually helps people lose weight. More research with larger groups and longer follow-up is needed.

The Bottom Line

This program shows promise and may be worth trying if you have obesity and struggle with memory, attention, or decision-making (moderate confidence level). It appears safe and practical. However, it should be used alongside other weight loss treatments, not instead of them. Talk to your doctor before starting any new program. More research is needed before strong recommendations can be made (low to moderate confidence).

This program is designed for adults with obesity who have noticed problems with thinking, memory, or attention. It may be especially helpful for people who have tried weight loss programs but struggled to stick with them. People without obesity or those without cognitive problems probably wouldn’t benefit. Anyone considering this program should discuss it with their doctor first.

Based on the program structure, you might notice improvements in thinking skills within the 6 weeks it takes to complete all sessions. However, improvements in weight loss and long-term habit changes would likely take longer—probably several months of practice after completing the program. Real benefits depend on continuing to use the skills you learn.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your performance on brain exercises weekly (score improvements in memory, attention, and problem-solving tasks) and note any changes in how easy it is to stick to healthy eating or exercise plans.
  • Use the app to complete one brain-training session per week, then log one specific healthy choice you made that day that required good decision-making or self-control (like choosing a healthy snack or exercising when you didn’t feel like it).
  • Monitor your thinking skills monthly using simple tests built into the app, and track your weight and eating habits weekly. Look for patterns between improvements in brain function and improvements in weight management behaviors over 2-3 months.

This research describes an early-stage brain-training program that has not yet been widely tested or approved for medical use. The findings are based on a very small study and should not be considered definitive medical advice. Before starting any new cognitive training program or weight loss intervention, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider. This program should complement, not replace, standard medical treatment for obesity. Individual results may vary, and this program is not a substitute for professional medical care, therapy, or medication prescribed by your healthcare provider.