s per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual classification, specific learning disability (SLD) requires a multidisciplinary approach which comprises heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders manifested by considerable, definite, and persistent difficulties in speaking, reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), mathematical reasoning, or calculations (dyscalculia) and their sub-skills after exclusion of visual, hearing or motor handicaps, subnormal intelligence, emotional disturbances, or sociocultural disadvantages [1,2]. SLD affects 80% of all those identified as learning disabled, with a prevalence of 10% with equal predilection in male and female [3,4]. The prevalence of SLD in school children is found out to be 6.6% [5]. The incidence of dyslexia in primary school children of India has been reported to be 2-18%, dysgraphia 14%, and dyscalculia 5.5% [5,6]. About one-third of SLD also have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [7].In many studies around the world, the prevalence of obesity was found to be higher among those with SLD than in the general population [2]. According to the World Health Organization, within the intellectual disability (ID) population, obesity and cholesterol levels are generally higher than in the general population [8]. Many factors, including genetic predisposition, culture, environment, metabolism, lifestyle preferences, and eating habits, are believed to play a role in the development of obesity [9]. Yamaki reported a prevalence of 34.60% of obesity in ABSTRACT Background: Obesity is common in urban school children. Learning disability (LD) prevalence is also growing, primarily in cities. Objective: The objective of this study is to find the prevalence of obesity in students with specific LD (SLD). Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study carried out at a tertiary care center attached to a medical college in Maharashtra, after obtaining permission from the institutional ethics committee. Consecutive 150 students with SLD between the ages of 8 and 18 years were studied over 18 months. Obesity was classified as per body mass index. Descriptive statistics and subgroup analysis were done by unpaired t-test. Results: Prevalence of obesity in students with SLD was 22.7% without gender predisposition and family history correlation. Of total students with SLD, 44 (29.3%) had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without any association with the obesity. Conclusions: Family history, ADHD, gender, other medical conditions, and drug history have no correlation with regard to obesity in SLD. There is a further requirement of research with large population control size.
