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Constipation and colonic transit times in children with morbid obesity

Olga H vd Baan-Slootweg1, Olivia Liem, Noor Bekkali

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma's Children's Hospital/AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|January 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Functional constipation is common in children with morbid obesity, affecting 21%. However, most do not have delayed colonic transit times (CTTs), suggesting motility is not the primary issue.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Obesity Research
  • Digestive Health

Background:

  • Morbid obesity in children is a growing concern with potential gastrointestinal complications.
  • Functional constipation is a common pediatric issue, but its prevalence in obese children is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of functional constipation in children with morbid obesity using Rome III criteria.
  • To assess colonic motility in these children by measuring colonic transit times (CTTs).

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-one children (ages 8-18) with morbid obesity participated in a randomized controlled obesity treatment study.
  • Standardized questionnaires assessed bowel habits, and radioopaque markers measured CTTs. Food diaries were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Functional constipation was diagnosed in 21% of children according to Rome III criteria.
  • Delayed CTT (>62 hours) was found in only 10.5% of constipated children and 8.3% of non-constipated children.
  • No significant dietary differences (fiber, fat intake) were observed between constipated and non-constipated groups.

Conclusions:

  • Functional constipation is highly prevalent in children with morbid obesity.
  • Abnormal colonic motility, indicated by delayed CTT, is present in only a small subset of these children.
  • Constipation in obese children does not appear to be related to fiber or fat intake.
Abstract

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