Anna Stefanowicz-Bielska1, Jolanta Wierzba2, Joanna Stefanowicz3, Andrzej Chamienia2. 1. Department of Internal and Pediatric Nursing, Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland - ania-stefanowicz@gumed.edu.pl. 2. Department of Internal and Pediatric Nursing, Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of overweight and obesity in children with Down syndrome. METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of children with Down Syndrome under the care of the Genetic Clinic in Gdansk from May 2017 to December 2018. RESULTS: The study included 26 female patients and 22 male patients with Down Syndrome, aged 7 to 18 years. The children were divided into two groups: group 1, with normal body weight and underweight; and group 2, with obesity and overweight. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed in 19% of children with Down Syndrome. The BMI analysis of the parents showed that the fathers of children with obesity and overweight had a higher BMI (P=0.043). In the group of children with overweight and obesity, obesity was more common in siblings (P=0.029), and sucking disorders were less frequent in the infancy period (P=0.015). Children with obesity and overweight were more likely to eat white bread (P=0.039), milk and other dairy products (P=0.04), and eggs (P=0.029) and ate more often between meals (P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: In families of children with Down Syndrome affected by overweight and obesity, nutritional disorders were more frequent in the other members of the family. More frequent unhealthy dietary choices were found in children with Down Syndrome affected by overweight and obesity than in children with a normal body weight and underweight. It is necessary to educate families about the principles of a healthy lifestyle, as it can improve the quality of life of patients with Down syndrome and the whole family.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of overweight and obesity in children with Down syndrome. METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of children with Down Syndrome under the care of the Genetic Clinic in Gdansk from May 2017 to December 2018. RESULTS: The study included 26 female patients and 22 male patients with Down Syndrome, aged 7 to 18 years. The children were divided into two groups: group 1, with normal body weight and underweight; and group 2, with obesity and overweight. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed in 19% of children with Down Syndrome. The BMI analysis of the parents showed that the fathers of children with obesity and overweight had a higher BMI (P=0.043). In the group of children with overweight and obesity, obesity was more common in siblings (P=0.029), and sucking disorders were less frequent in the infancy period (P=0.015). Children with obesity and overweight were more likely to eat white bread (P=0.039), milk and other dairy products (P=0.04), and eggs (P=0.029) and ate more often between meals (P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: In families of children with Down Syndrome affected by overweight and obesity, nutritional disorders were more frequent in the other members of the family. More frequent unhealthy dietary choices were found in children with Down Syndrome affected by overweight and obesity than in children with a normal body weight and underweight. It is necessary to educate families about the principles of a healthy lifestyle, as it can improve the quality of life of patients with Down syndrome and the whole family.
Authors: James A Hendrix; Angelika Amon; Leonard Abbeduto; Stamatis Agiovlasitis; Tarek Alsaied; Heather A Anderson; Lisa J Bain; Nicole Baumer; Anita Bhattacharyya; Dusan Bogunovic; Kelly N Botteron; George Capone; Priya Chandan; Isabelle Chase; Brian Chicoine; Cécile Cieuta-Walti; Lara R DeRuisseau; Sophie Durand; Anna Esbensen; Juan Fortea; Sandra Giménez; Ann-Charlotte Granholm; Laura J Hahn; Elizabeth Head; Hampus Hillerstrom; Lisa M Jacola; Matthew P Janicki; Joan M Jasien; Angela R Kamer; Raymond D Kent; Bernard Khor; Jeanne B Lawrence; Catherine Lemonnier; Amy Feldman Lewanda; William Mobley; Paul E Moore; Linda Pollak Nelson; Nicolas M Oreskovic; Ricardo S Osorio; David Patterson; Sonja A Rasmussen; Roger H Reeves; Nancy Roizen; Stephanie Santoro; Stephanie L Sherman; Nasreen Talib; Ignacio E Tapia; Kyle M Walsh; Steven F Warren; A Nicole White; Guang William Wong; John S Yi Journal: Transl Sci Rare Dis Date: 2021-04-15