Body mass index status among children with intellectual disability

Abstract

Context: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) have certain limitations in mental functioning and experience poorer health as compared to general population. The adults with ID have a high risk of developing obesity, and women with ID have a high risk of developing morbid obesity Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of obesity among children aged 12- 15 years. Method: All intellectually disabled children between 11 to 15 years old attending special education schools in Pune, Maharashtra were included in the study. Two hundred twenty-five children (83 females and 142 males) were participated in this study. There was no age difference between male (Mean=12.36 years, SD=1.51) and female (Mean=12.61 years, SD=1.63). The degree of intellectual disability of participants ranged from mild to severe based upon the IQ records available in school. A non-stretching metric tape-measure was used to determine Participants height. Height was measured in centimeters (cms) using a custom-made 3.5 metre wooden ruler and weight was measured in kilograms using a digital weighing scale which give a reading of weight in kilograms to one decimal place. Body Mass Index was calculated using Quetelet’s ratio. Results: The total sample, as well as male and female respondents, was classified into one of the three groups based on their BMI rating: that is, overweight, normal weight, and underweight. In the total sample, 6.2% of participants were overweight, 23.11% normal weight, and 70.22% were underweight. The results help to interpret that majority of children with ID were underweight. Conclusion: Children below 15 years of age having ID seems to be underweight.