Abstract
Objective To investigate weight concerns in children with special needs. Methods Data from an established patient database on Microsoft Excel for a local community paediatric service was analysed for September 2015 to August 2016. Patient diagnoses were categorised as follows: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Difficulty (LD), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Global Developmental Delay (GDD), Trisomy 21 (T 21) and Other syndromes. The proportions of these children being overweight/obese, underweight, having eating problems, requiring dietician services and having behavioural problems were recorded. Odds ratios were calculated comparing subgroups. Results One thousand and seventeen (1017) patients attended the clinics; Seven hundred and seventy one (771) were male. Fifteen point four percent (15.4%, 157) of patients had weight concerns, with 9.3% (95) being overweight or obese and 6.1% (62) underweight. Five point one percent (5.1%, 52) of children experienced eating problems. Seven point nine percent (7.9%,80) patients accessed the dietician services and behavioral concerns were noted in 8.8% (90) patients. Regarding ASD, the odds of being overweight or obese was lower compared to the rest of the group; 3.7% (15) were overweight or obese. For ADHD, 15% (13) were overweight or obese. Amongst children with Learning Difficulty, 17.5% (44) were overweight or obese. CP children had higher odds of being underweight compared to the rest of the group (14.9% of children with CP were underweight). For Trisomy 21 and other syndromes, 17% (5) were overweight or obese. Conclusion International data indicates that children with special needs have high rates of overweight and obesity. This study also shows that a significant proportion of children with special needs are overweight or obese and at risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Strategies implemented locally to address NCDs must give emphasis to children with special needs. Keywords: Obesity, Special Needs, Children
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were nearly 41 million children under five years old who were considered overweight or obese in 2016.1a recent study, led by the Imperial CollegeLondon and the WHO, published in The Lancet in October2017, notes that the number of obese children and adolescents worldwide has risen tenfold in the past four (4) decades.[2]
International data indicates that children with special needs have high rates of overweight and obesity
This study shows that a significant proportion of children with special needs are overweight or obese and at risk of
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were nearly 41 million children under five years old who were considered overweight or obese in 2016.1a recent study, led by the Imperial CollegeLondon and the WHO, published in The Lancet in October2017, notes that the number of obese children and adolescents (aged five to nineteen years) worldwide has risen tenfold in the past four (4) decades.[2]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were nearly 41 million children under five years old who were considered overweight or obese in 2016.1. In Trinidad and Tobago, a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of obesity and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes among school children in Trinidad, showed that 15% of children were obese and 17% were overweight.[4]. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that NCDs are chronic diseases of “long duration which are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors”; the main types of NCDs are cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes.[6] Obesity is a significant risk factor for NCDs like diabetes and cardiovascular disease and would impact the long-term quality of life of children with special needs if they develop these conditions
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