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Body mass index measures in children with cerebral palsy related to gross motor function classification: a
Edward A Hurvitz1, Liza B Green, Joseph E Hornyak
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Insights
Overweight and obesity are prevalent in children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially those who are ambulatory. Further research is needed to confirm these findings using more precise measurements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Clinical Nutrition
- Child Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function, potentially impacting nutritional status and weight management.
- Overweight and obesity are growing concerns in pediatric populations, with potential implications for children with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a clinic-based population of children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To examine the association between gross motor function status and weight status in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 137 children (2-18 years) with CP treated at a pediatric rehabilitation clinic.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated from height and weight; Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) levels I-V recorded.
- BMI percentiles compared to CDC growth standards; associations analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test.
Main Results:
- 29.1% of children with CP were overweight or at risk for overweight.
- Ambulatory children (GMFCS I-II) showed a trend towards higher overweight prevalence (22.7%) compared to nonambulatory children (GMFCS IV-V, 9.6%).
- Underweight was significantly more prevalent in nonambulatory children (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Children with CP in this cohort exhibit a high prevalence of overweight and risk of overweight, particularly ambulatory individuals.
- Underweight is a significant issue for nonambulatory children with CP.
- Further investigation with more accurate measures than BMI is recommended to clarify weight-related risks in this population.
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of overweight in a clinic-based population of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and its association with gross motor function status.
Design:
Retrospective chart review. We calculated body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) from charted height and weight and recorded Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS levels I-V) on the basis of clinical descriptions in clinic notes for 137 children (2-18 yrs old) with CP seen in a pediatric rehabilitation clinic at an academic medical center. BMI percentiles were reported according to sex-specific age group standards for growth set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Associations were modeled by Pearson's chi2 distribution.
Results:
Out of the total CP subject group, 29.1% were considered overweight (>95th percentile) or at risk for overweight (85th to 95th percentile). Ambulatory children (GMFCS levels I and II) showed a trend (Pearson's chi2, P = 0.06) toward higher prevalence of overweight (22.7%) compared with nonambulatory children (levels IV and V, 9.6%). Underweight was more prevalent in nonambulatory children (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis did not identify any significant predictors for overweight.
Conclusions:
In our patient population, analysis of BMI suggests that children with CP have a high rate of overweight and are at risk of overweight, particularly among ambulatory children. More study is needed, using measures more accurate than BMI, to clarify risk.
