Underweight and overweight cases among the mentally retarded

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• Intellectual disability can impact health outcomes, including nutritional status.
• Understanding body mass index (BMI) in this population is crucial for targeted health interventions.
• Previous research has not extensively detailed BMI distribution in Finnish individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the body mass index (BMI) of mentally retarded individuals in Northern Finland.
• To compare BMI in individuals with mild versus severe intellectual disability.
• To identify prevalence of underweight, ideal weight, and obesity within this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study tracking individuals born in 1966 in Northern Finland.
• Body mass index (BMI) calculated at age 20 for survivors.
• Data collected from 112 individuals with reliable BMI information.

Main Results:

• Mean BMI did not significantly differ from the average Finnish population (age 20-29).
• 41.5% of mildly retarded and 28.6% of severely retarded individuals had ideal weight (BMI 20-24).
• 9.8% were moderately obese (BMI >30) and 7.1% severely obese (BMI >=32).
• 29.5% were underweight (BMI <20), predominantly among the severely retarded.
• Severely obese individuals often lived with parents and lacked occupational engagement.

Conclusions:

• While average BMI is comparable, significant BMI deviations (underweight and obesity) exist in mentally retarded individuals.
• Underweight is a notable issue for severely intellectually disabled individuals, linked to feeding and disability challenges.
• Obesity prevalence, especially severe obesity, is concerning and associated with lack of engagement and support.