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Fat distribution in children with cerebral palsy
Q W Spender1, C E Cronk, V A Stallings
1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Philadelphia.
Annals of Human Biology
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Children with cerebral palsy show depleted triceps fat compared to subscapular fat. This difference in fat distribution may indicate a higher risk of undernutrition in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Cerebral Palsy Research
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) often presents challenges in nutrition and growth.
- Understanding body composition is crucial for managing health outcomes in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fat distribution patterns in children with cerebral palsy.
- To compare skinfold measurements between triceps and subscapular sites.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of triceps and subscapular skinfolds in 95 North American children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- Comparison of measured fat levels against established population standards based on sex, age, and race.
Main Results:
- Triceps skinfold fat was significantly more depleted than subscapular skinfold fat.
- The observed fat depletion exceeded expected levels when compared to population norms.
Conclusions:
- A distinct truncal distribution of fat, with peripheral depletion, was noted in children with CP.
- This fat distribution pattern may be associated with the high prevalence of undernutrition observed in the study sample.