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Intellectual disability is associated with increased risk for obesity in a nationally representative sample of U.S.

Mary Segal1, Misha Eliasziw2, Sarah Phillips2

  • 1Research Center for Health Care Decision-making, Inc., 706 E Hartwell Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA.

Disability and Health Journal
|January 21, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with intellectual disability (ID) have nearly double the obesity prevalence of their peers. Factors like family meal frequency and physical activity may influence this disparity, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health
  • Disability Studies

Background:

  • Obesity prevalence data in children with intellectual disability (ID) is limited.
  • Intellectual disability affects a significant portion of the pediatric population, with potential implications for health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate and compare obesity rates in children aged 10-17 with and without ID.
  • To investigate the association between obesity and behavioral factors (family meal frequency, physical activity) in children with and without ID.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a nationally representative dataset (2011 National Survey of Children's Health).
  • Employed chi-square tests and logistic regression models to compare obesity prevalence and behavioral characteristics.
  • Analyzed interactions to determine if behavioral associations with obesity differed between groups.

Main Results:

  • Obesity prevalence was 28.9% in children with ID versus 15.5% in children without ID.
  • Children with ID had 1.89 times higher odds of obesity after adjusting for covariates.
  • Children with ID reported lower family meal frequency and physical activity participation compared to peers without ID.

Conclusions:

  • Youth with intellectual disability exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of obesity.
  • Consistent family mealtimes and physical activity warrant further research for their impact on obesity in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenIntellectual disabilityObesity prevalence

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