Nutritional assessment and obesity in Down syndrome children and their siblings in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status and prevalence of obesity among children with Down syndrome (DS).

METHODS: The study group comprised pre-pubertal children, with clinically and cytogenetically proven DS. Healthy siblings, closest in age to the DS children, were used as a control group. Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT), and macro- and micronutrient intakes were measured in both groups. The study was conducted in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between February and May 2011.

RESULTS: Children with DS were shorter than their siblings, but had comparable weights. The DS children had higher BMIs and higher TSFTs, compared with their siblings. The prevalence of overweight and obesity differed significantly between the DS and control groups. The DS children had significantly lower intakes of fat, protein, retinol, riboflavin, and potassium compared with their siblings.

CONCLUSION: Obesity appears to be a prominent feature among Saudi DS children.