Dietary pattern, physical activity and body composition of Children with and without Down Syndrome – A case control study

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is a known chromosomal disorder that results in changes in physical and clinical characteristics. Subjects with DS are more likely to be obese or overweight and have some recognized nutrition related problems. The objectives of this study are to compare body composition, food consumption pattern and physical activity level of children with and without DS. Methods: A case-control study of 82 participants (32 cases and 50 controls) was done. Anthropometric data related to weight, height, waist circumference, fat mass and fat free mass were obtained from the subjects. Food frequency questionnaire and survey were used to evaluate the dietary intake from 8 food groups and physical activity, respectively. Results: Children with DS exhibited significantly less intake of fruits and leafy vegetables (P < 0.05) compared to controls. There was no significant difference in the average number of sport activities that both children with DS and NDS were involved in, male with DS preferred dancing (P = 0.028) while NDS preferred football (P = 0.008). Statistically significant difference between the cases and controls was found in female fat mass (P = 0.043), waist circumference (P = 0.024, 0.007), hip circumference (P = 0.05, 0.011) and waist to height ratio (P < 0.001) of both male and female children with and without DS. Conclusion: Abdominal obesity is a major health concern among children with DS, indicating their increased risk of comorbidities associated with abdominal obesity such as insulin resistance. Their tendency to consume simple carbohydrate instead of fiber rich food, fruits and vegetables might further increase their risk of obesity. Perception of the dietary and physical activity preferences could help in the development of a life style program for higher quality of life.