Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Accuracy Of Body Mass Index In Categorizing Weight Status In Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Michele Polfuss, Bethany Forseth, Dale A. Schoeller, Chiang-Ching Huang, Andrea Moosreiner, Paula E. Papanek, Kathleen J. Sawin, Kimberley Zvara, Linda Bandini

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

PURPOSE:

To identify the accuracy of Body Mass Index (BMI) to categorize body weight in a sample of children with spina bifida and Down syndrome as compared to typically developing peers.

METHODS:

A secondary analysis of 32 children with spina bifida, Down syndrome or no chronic illness. A calculated BMI was plotted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention age- and sex-specific BMI growth charts to determine each child’s weight status. Percentage of body fat, obtained by labeled water, was plotted on two different body fat percentile reference curves, one derived from a whole body measure (DXA) of body …

Total Energy Expenditure And Body Composition Of Children With Developmental Disabilities, Michele L. Polfuss, Kathleen J. Sawin, Paula E. Papanek, Linda Bandini, Bethany Forseth, Andrea Moosreiner, Kimberley Zvara, Dale A. Schoeller

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Obesity prevalence is increased in children with developmental disabilities, specifically in children with spina bifida and Down syndrome. Energy expenditure, a critical aspect of weight management, has been extensively studied in the typically developing population, but not adequately studied in children with developmental disabilities.

Objective

Determine energy expenditure, fat-free mass and body fat percentile and the impact of these findings on recommended caloric intake in children with spina bifida and Down syndrome.

Methods/Measures

This pilot study included 36 children, 18 with spina bifida, 9 with Down syndrome and 9 typically developing children. Half of the children with spina bifida …