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Body mass index for Saudi children with Down's syndrome
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mhusain97@hotmail.com
Aim:
Children with Down's syndrome (DS) have a higher prevalence of obesity than children without DS. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and to establish reference body mass index (BMI) percentile curves for Saudi children with uncomplicated DS below the age of 5 y.
Methods:
BMI was measured prospectively in 785 children with DS and compared with 989 Saudi children without DS. Both groups were compared with the international cut-off point figures for age and gender.
Results:
Obesity was not a prominent features in Saudi children with DS and their mean BMI curves were linear to the international cut-off points for BMI, indicating a clear tendency for overweight. BMI reference percentile curves were constructed.
Conclusion:
Reference curves for BMI worked out in this study, taken in conjunction with those for height and weight, will be useful in monitoring the size and shape of Saudi children with DS up to the age of 5 y.