Patterns of Obesity among Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities in Taiwan

Abstract

Background Obesity and the health problems associated with it have substantial economic consequences for health care systems. Little information is available concerning obesity-related problems among people with intellectual disabilities. The aims of this study were to analyse patterns of obesity among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan and to compare these data with existing national norms in an attempt to identify the scale of the problem of obesity among this population. Methods Information was collected by postal questionnaire on a total of 279 children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (age 4-18 years). Results Sixty-four per cent of participants in the study had multiple disabilities and 40% had additional health needs. In terms of general health status, most of the persons with intellectual disabilities were reported to be in fair or good health, with 9% of them being reported to be unhealthy or very unhealthy. Body mass index (BMI) was related to age, but not to gender, morbidity or prescribed medication at the time of the survey. However, average BMI was higher than relevant population norms reported in Taiwan's Third National Nutrition and Health Survey (1993-1996). The overall prevalence of obesity was 18%, with 14% of participants aged 4-6 years, 22% of participants aged 7-12 years and 16% of participants aged 13-18 years being obese. In a multiple regression analysis of BMI, age was the only significant predictor of obesity, accounting for 8% of variation. Conclusions The findings suggest that the problem of obesity among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities should be considered a major public health concern that warrants further attention in health care systems.

Concept de soi physique et adolescents présentant une déficience intellectuelle: Effets de l'âge, du sexe et de la catégorie de poids

“…Parmi ces troubles, le développement du surpoids et de l'obésité est tout particulièrement prégnant. En effet, de récentes études rapportent, chez les adolescents DI, des niveaux de prévalence de surpoids et (ou) d'obésité systématiquement supérieurs à ceux observés chez les adolescents sans DI, et cela quel que soit le contexte d'accompagnement [23][24][25][26][27] . L'apparition de cette pathologie secondaire est particulièrement préoccupante, car elle risque de devenir sur-handicapante sur le plan physique 28,29 et psychosocial 30 .…”

Prevalence and potential factors associated with overweight and obesity status in adults with intellectual developmental disorders

“…To our understanding, considerable attention had been given to the younger population as this disability originates before the age of 18. Researchers from around the world have reported that the prevalence of obesity in children with intellectual disability varies from 3% to 37% (Begarie, Maiano, Leconte, & Ninot, 2013;Lin, Yen, Li, & Wu, 2005;Mikulovic et al, 2011;Rimmer, Yamaki, Davis, Wang, & Vogel, 2011;Stewart et al, 2009) and that the prevalence is at least as high if not higher than their typically developing peers (Bandini, Curtin, Hamad, Tybor, & Must, 2005;Chen, Kim, Houtrow, & Newacheck, 2009;Curtin, Anderson, Must, & Bandini, 2010;Must et al, 2014). With the population of individuals with intellectual disability ageing; there is a dire need to study the adult population.…”

Impact of a Smarter Lunchroom intervention on food selection and consumption among adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a residential school setting

“…A higher prevalence of obesity has been reported among non-representative samples of youth with spina bifida (5) , cerebral palsy (6,7) , Down's syndrome (8) and intellectual disability (9)(10)(11)(12) . Obesity among youth with I/DD may undermine their ability to live independently, limit future opportunities for employment, and may contribute to health disparities in adulthood (13) .…”