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Body mass index in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: A cohort study
Jessica Pascoe1, Pam Thomason1,2, H Kerr Graham1,2,3
1Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Insights
Nearly 20% of Australian children with cerebral palsy (CP) are overweight or obese, similar to peers without disability. This weight status may affect surgical and rehabilitation outcomes, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Public Health
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit lower physical activity levels and are at higher risk for overweight and obesity.
- Limited data exists on the weight status of Australian children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the body mass index (BMI) distribution in ambulant children with CP against the general Australian child population.
- To investigate the association between BMI and gross motor function in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 587 ambulant children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III).
- BMI and Z-scores were calculated, and participants were categorized as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese based on age- and sex-specific percentiles.
Main Results:
- The study included 348 boys and 240 girls with a mean age of 11.2 years.
- The overall distribution of BMI categories (underweight, healthy, overweight, obese) was comparable to children without disabilities.
- Children classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I were most frequently in the healthy weight range, while those in GMFCS level III were most frequently obese.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion (19.4%) of ambulant children with CP in this cohort were overweight or obese.
- Elevated BMI in children with CP is a concern due to potential negative impacts on surgical and rehabilitation outcomes.
- Further research is necessary to understand the long-term consequences of obesity in this population.
Aim:
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have reduced levels of physical activity compared with children without physical disability and experience risk factors for becoming overweight or obese. In the Australian CP population, there is little information available about the weight status of children with CP. The aims of this study were to compare the distribution of body mass index (BMI) in a cohort of ambulant children with CP with the BMI distribution of Australian children and explore the relationship between BMI and gross motor function.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of 587 children with CP Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III who attended a Gait Laboratory between July 1995 and January 2012 was carried out. The BMI and Z-score were calculated at each assessment. Data were grouped into the categories of underweight, healthy, overweight and obese according to age-specific and sex-specific percentiles.
Results:
There were 348 boys and 240 girls with a mean age 11.2 (standard deviation 3.2) years. Mean BMI Z-score was 0.11 (standard deviation 1.33). Seven percent of children were underweight, 73.6% healthy, 7.3% overweight and 12.1% obese. This was similar to the distribution of children without disability. The largest percentage of children in the healthy group were classified GMFCS I. The largest percentage of children in the obese group were classified GMFCS III.
Conclusions:
In this cohort, 19.4% of ambulant children with CP were overweight or obese. This is of concern as BMI may impact on the outcomes of surgical intervention and rehabilitation. Further research is needed to determine the consequences of obesity for children with CP.
