Down syndrome children are more likely to be overweight and suffer from resultant health problems. Dr. Helma van Gameren-Oosterom and colleagues examined nearly 700 children with Down syndrome in Netherlands and compared them with children without the disorder, Reuters Health reported.
Body mass index or BMI (weight in relation to height) of all the participants were measured and recorded. Researchers noticed a significant number of children with Down syndrome, both boys and girls being overweight (25.5 and 32 percent respectively) or obese (4.2 and 5.1 percent respectively) compared to children without the condition.
According to the authors, children with Down syndrome are more likely to have poor motor skills, making them less active and increasing the risks of putting on unnecessary weight.
"We were alarmed by the high prevalence of overweight in children with Down syndrome," Gameren-Oosterom, the lead author of the study from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research in Leiden, told Reuters. "Of course we knew that the prevalence of overweight is rising; for Dutch standards a twofold level, however, was not expected."
The findings stir concern as obesity can put children at higher risks of many health problems later, health experts said. Though researchers couldn't point out the actual causes behind the occurrence, following a healthy diet and regular exercise can help children with Down syndrome to maintain a healthy weight. Results of the study have been published online in Pediatrics.
Down syndrome is a condition where the baby possesses an extra chromosome, apart from the regular 46 chromosomes. This additional chromosome affects normal development of the body and brain.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the country, nearly 6,000 babies are affected by the disorder.
Children with Down syndrome experience both physical problems and intellectual disabilities. According to the agency, these children will benefit from therapies - speech, occupational and physical therapy.
