Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Mar;57(3):273-8.
doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12591. Epub 2014 Sep 23.

Fat distribution in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele

Nicole M Mueske  1 , Deirdre D Ryan, Alexander L Van Speybroeck, Linda S Chan, Tishya A L Wren
Affiliations

Fat distribution in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele

Nicole M Mueske et al. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate fat distribution in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Method: Cross-sectional DXA measurements of the percentage of fat in the trunk, arms, legs, and whole body were compared between 82 children with myelomeningocele (45 males, 37 females; mean age 9y 8mo, SD 2y 7mo; 22 sacral, 13 low lumbar, 47 mid lumbar and above) and 119 comparison children (65 males, 54 females; mean age 10y 4mo, SD 2y 4mo). Differences in fat distribution between groups were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: Children with myelomeningocele had higher total body fat (34% vs 31%, p=0.02) and leg fat (42% vs 35%, p<0.001) than comparison children, but no differences in trunk or arm fat after adjustment for anthropometric measures.

Interpretation: Children with myelomeningocele have higher than normal total body and leg fat, but only children with higher level lesions have increased trunk fat, which may be caused by greater obesity in this group. Quantifying segmental fat distribution may aid in better assessment of excess weight and, potentially, the associated health risks.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have stated that they had no interests that might be perceived as posing a conflict or bias.

References

    1. Finding balance obesity and children with special needs. Ability Path. 2011:1–52. http://www.abilitypath.org/health-daily-care/health/growth-and-nutrition....
    1. Bandini LG, Curtin C, Hamad C, Tybor DJ, Must A. Prevalence of overweight in children with developmental disorders in the continuous national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 1999–2002. J Pediatr. 2005;146:738–743. - PubMed
    1. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004. JAMA. 2006;295:1549–1555. - PubMed
    1. Hayes-Allen MC, Tring FC. Obesity: another hazard for spina bifida children. Brit J Prev Soc Med. 1973;27:192–196. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Poirier P, Giles TD, Bray GA, et al. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss: an update of the 1997 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Obesity and Heart Disease from the Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation. 2006;113:898–918. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources