Body composition and nutrition of school children with cerebral palsy

Summary Height, weight, body composition, and intake of energy and of some essential nutrients were determined on 23 full‐board subjects with cerebral palsy, aged 7–21 years, from Bräcke Öster‐gärd Pediatric Habilitation Centre. Body height was generally small för age while weight often was increased för height. The mean body cell mass was 86 per cent of the value predicted för height. The extracellular water was strikingly increased in all subjects. Body fat was increased in 7 spastics and reduced in 5 spastics and in 6 of the 7 dyskinetics. The observed energy intake was low but adequate för active metabolic mass in 11 of 23 subjects. The reduced energy requirements of most subjects resulted in an insufficient supply of several essential nutrients due to the composition of the food offered. Low physical activity and malnutrition were suggested as possible causes of the abnormal body composition.