Patterns and determinants of growth and body composition in children and adolescents with intellectual disability

• Grant number: 17/13071-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2018
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Gil Guerra Júnior
• Grantee: Fábio Bertapelli
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/07103-6 - Patterns and determinants of growth and body composition in children and adolescents with intellectual disability, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Growth disorders and obesity in youth are public health problem. Youth with intellectual disabilities (ID) have higher prevalence of obesity and growth disorders than the general population of youth without ID. In Brazil, there are no population-based research about the growth and body composition in youth with ID. The primary objective of this study is to examine the patterns and determinants of growth and overweight in youth with ID in the State of São Paulo. The secondary objective is to examine the body composition and its potential determinants in youth with and without ID. The accuracy of anthropometric data in detecting overweight in youth with and without ID will also be examined. This research will be developed through two phases. In the phase I, we will collect data on weight, height, and body circumferences to assess growth patterns and prevalence of overweight in youth with ID (5-18 years old, n = 1000); we will also construct growth charts for youth with ID. In the phase II, we will examine the body composition (percentage of fat, regional and total fat and lean mass, and bone mineral density and content) and its potential determinants (physical activity levels, sedentary behavior, sports participation, motor performance, sexual maturation, quality of sleep, eating patterns, comorbidities and sociodemographic factors) in youth with and without ID (5-18 years old, ID n = 50, without ID n = 50); the body fat using DXA will serve as a criterion for assessing the performance of body circumferences (neck and waist), and height/waist ratio in identifying overweight. This study is crucial to support clinical practice and epidemiological research to guide public policy in preventing growth disorders and reducing obesity in youth with ID. (AU)