Emma Woolbright1, Hitoshi Koshiya2, J Nicholas Brenton3. 1. Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. 2. School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. 3. Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: jnb8h@virginia.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Investigate the perceptions of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients regarding their body size and assess the feasibility of recruitment for a study of diet modification in this unique population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed a cohort of 43 consecutive youth with MS. The survey queried participant demographics, clinical disease characteristics, body size perception, and opinions of diet modification RESULTS: : While over three quarters of surveyed participants were overweight/obese, 58% of these participants did not self-identify as such. A single participant was attempting a diet at the time of survey, but 88% of participants indicated interest in pursuing diet modification. BMI category did not impact an individual's willingness to pursue diet intervention; however, obese participants were more willing to participate in diet intervention for longer durations. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of MS youth have an elevated BMI, yet the majority have the self-perception that they are not overweight or obese. Regardless of BMI, most youth with MS have an interest in pursuing diet modification in attempts to benefit their disease course.
BACKGROUND: Investigate the perceptions of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients regarding their body size and assess the feasibility of recruitment for a study of diet modification in this unique population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed a cohort of 43 consecutive youth with MS. The survey queried participant demographics, clinical disease characteristics, body size perception, and opinions of diet modification RESULTS: : While over three quarters of surveyed participants were overweight/obese, 58% of these participants did not self-identify as such. A single participant was attempting a diet at the time of survey, but 88% of participants indicated interest in pursuing diet modification. BMI category did not impact an individual's willingness to pursue diet intervention; however, obese participants were more willing to participate in diet intervention for longer durations. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of MS youth have an elevated BMI, yet the majority have the self-perception that they are not overweight or obese. Regardless of BMI, most youth with MS have an interest in pursuing diet modification in attempts to benefit their disease course.
Authors: Mukanthu H Nyirenda; Giulia Fadda; Luke M Healy; Ina Mexhitaj; Laurence Poliquin-Lasnier; Heather Hanwell; Alexander W Saveriano; Ayal Rozenberg; Rui Li; Craig S Moore; Chahrazed Belabani; Trina Johnson; Julia O'Mahony; Douglas L Arnold; E Ann Yeh; Ruth Ann Marrie; Shannon Dunn; Brenda Banwell; Amit Bar-Or Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2021-02-01 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: J Nicholas Brenton; Emma Woolbright; Christina Briscoe-Abath; Asma Qureshi; Mark Conaway; Myla D Goldman Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2019-04-05 Impact factor: 5.449
Authors: Giuseppe Matarese; Pietro Biagio Carrieri; Antonio La Cava; Francesco Perna; Veronica Sanna; Veronica De Rosa; Daniela Aufiero; Silvia Fontana; Serafino Zappacosta Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2005-03-23 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ellen M Mowry; Christina J Azevedo; Charles E McCulloch; Darin T Okuda; Robin R Lincoln; Emmanuelle Waubant; Stephen L Hauser; Daniel Pelletier Journal: Neurology Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 11.800
Authors: Jennifer E Lee; Tyler J Titcomb; Babita Bisht; Linda M Rubenstein; Rebecca Louison; Terry L Wahls Journal: J Am Coll Nutr Date: 2020-03-26 Impact factor: 3.169