Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: July | Volume: 7 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 75-79
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Down Syndrome
Panneer Selvi. G1*, Dr. K.R Srinivasan2*, Dr. P. Koteeswary3**, Dr. Deepti Shastri3*, Dr. Senthil Kumar Babu4*
1Tutor, 2Professor, 3Professor and Head, 4Lecturer,
*Department of Anatomy, **Department of Transfusion Medicine,
Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospital, Salem- Tamilnadu-636 308.
Corresponding Author: Panneer Selvi. G
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To correlate whether the individuals with Down syndrome are at increased risk of overweight or obesity and is there any difference in BMI between male and female Down syndrome.
Study designs: The study was conducted on 96 cases (59 males and 37 females) of Down syndrome with the age ranging from one year to 40 years. All 96 cases were randomly selected from various special schools of Tamilnadu state of India. The participant’s weight and height were measured using digital weighing scale and stadiometer respectively. BMI (Kg/m2) was calculated. Data were compiled on SPSS version 16.0 and unpaired t- test were used for comparing variables.
Results: There were significant differences in BMI of males and females Down syndrome cases. As per National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Charts for Down syndrome from birth to 18 years of age, BMI percentile between 85th and 95th were observed in 12% of males and 35% of females Down syndrome. Since National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Charts are limited only to Down syndrome up to the age of 18 years, WHO categories was used from 19 years to 40 years of cases, BMI above 25kg/m2 were observed in 13% males and 20% females. BMI above 30kg/m2 were present only in 2% of male Down syndrome.
Conclusions: Our study indicates that there is no question of obesity up to the age of 18 years of Down syndrome, but many of them were found to be overweight. Only 2 % of cases were observed in obesity category that too between 19 to 40 years. Hence physical activity based intervention should be strictly followed in preventing overweight gain in all Down syndrome cases. Development of various other associated diseases due to overweight and obesity could be prevented with strict physical activity under supervision.
Key words: Down syndrome; body mass index; obesity; overweight