NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSICAL STATUS IN PREPUBERTAL BOYS WITH LOW IQ AND IN COUNTERPARTS OF NORMAL INTELLIGENCE 876

Abstract

To determine whether boys with IQs from 60-80 differed in nutritional and exercise habits from those with normal intelligence, and if so, were such differences reflected in nutritional and physical status, three groups of 12 year-old prepubertal boys were examined. Group 1 (n=24) was comprised of those involved in after-school athletics, and Group II (n=30), of normally active subjects. While those in Group III (n=6) had low IQs, subjects in Groups I and II were of normal intelligence. Habitual activity and dietary intake were estimated by questionnaire, and body fatness by skinfold thickness.˙VO2max was elicited via cycle ergometry. Fasting erythrocyte count, hematocrit, and concentrations of hemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, and triglyceride were determined. Mean weekly minutes of exercise was significantly less (p<0.05) in the low IQ group than in the other groups. Energy intake and composition of diet did not differ. In the low IQ group, mean ˙VO2max was significantly lower (p<0.05) than in the other groups. Lipid profiles were most favorable in the athletic boys. We conclude that prepubertal boys with low IQ are less active than normally intelligent counterparts and therefore may be more inclined to suffer adverse health consequences of low aerobic power and unfavorable blood lipid patterns.