Nutrient intake and anthropometry in children and adolescents with Down syndrome–a preliminary study

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OBJECTIVE: To assess nutrient intake and anthropometrical characteristics of children and adolescents with DS, in Northern Greece. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 34 youngsters with DS. The sample was divided into two age groups, children aged 2-9 years and adolescents aged 10-18 years old. A 3-day food record was used to assess dietary intake. Body weight, height, WHR,% body fat, BMI, FMI, FFMI and z-scores were recorded for each participant. RESULTS: All participants exhibited a high CHO and low fat diet. More than half of the participants reported having five meals daily and the majority exercised twice a week. A great majority was stunted and overweight according to general population growth charts and 22% of the adolescents were also obese. %Body fat, BMI, FMI and FFMI was higher in adolescents. Generally, younger participants presented lower overweight rates and consumed a diet more sufficient in micronutrients; however, WHR was similar in both age-groups, indicating a constant trend in weight distribution of DS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although children with DS are born with a genetic predisposition to become overweight, obesity is actually nurtured throughout childhood when they develop food choices and become more independent.