Clin Nutr Res.  2018 Oct;7(4):266-275. 10.7762/cnr.2018.7.4.266.

Food Habits, Dietary Intake, and Body Composition in Children with Cerebral Palsy

• Kim HJ
• Choi HN
• Yim JE

• KMID: 2424302
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2018.7.4.266

Abstract

This study aimed to determine meal-related factors affecting nutritional status, dietary intake, and body composition of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study was conducted on 16 children with and 16 children without CP, aged 4 to 12 years, through a survey on general characteristics, body composition, eating habits, and nutrient intake. In the case of children with CP, comparisons were made according to classification into types of paralysis (hemiplegia, paraplegia, and quadriplegia). With respect to stature, the percentile of those surveyed was within normal range; however, children with CP were in a significantly lower percentile (p < 0.05) than healthy children. Regarding problems of dietary life, while usually brain-damaged children with CP have an overeating problem, seriously brain-damaged children with CP cannot have a meal by themselves; this was significantly different among the groups (p < 0.01). Regarding average intake of vitamin D and calcium, children with and without CP had a lower intake than required, with no significant difference between the groups. The evaluation of the nutrient status of children with and children without CP showed that children with CP were slow in stature development, and intake of vitamin D and calcium were less than required; therefore, it is necessary to provide education on adequate intake of nutrients. Since CP leads to frequent external intervention to having meals, it is required of parents and teachers to undergo training on adequate eating habits and attitudes.

Keyword

Cerebral palsy; Food habits; Diet; Body composition

MeSH Terms

Body Composition*
Calcium
Cerebral Palsy*
Child*
Classification
Diet
Eating
Education
Food Habits*
Humans
Hyperphagia
Meals
Nutritional Status
Paralysis
Paraplegia
Parents
Reference Values
Vitamin D
Calcium
Vitamin D

Reference

1. Kim KH. Effect of feeding behavior on physique and body fat for students with cerebral palsy. J Korean Phys Edu Assoc Girls Women. 2007; 21:45–55.

2. Hillesund E, Skranes J, Trygg KU, Bøhmer T. Micronutrient status in children with cerebral palsy. Acta Paediatr. 2007; 96:1195–1198.

3. Fung EB, Samson-Fang L, Stallings VA, Conaway M, Liptak G, Henderson RC, Worley G, O'Donnell M, Calvert R, Rosenbaum P, Chumlea W, Stevenson RD. Feeding dysfunction is associated with poor growth and health status in children with cerebral palsy. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002; 102:361–373.

4. Kim JD, Bae YK, Cho MS. Eating patterns of children with cerebral palsy by table utensil-handling skills. J Korean Diet Assoc. 2009; 15:139–151.

5. Park EJ, Moon HK, Lee SS, Park WH. A study on the food habit and nutritional status of developmentally disabled children. Korean J Nutr. 2001; 34:188–197.

6. Lee JH, Lee EH, Choe EO. Study on eating habits and food preference for breakfast of elementary, middle, or high school students in the Incheon area. Korean J Food Cookery Sci. 2014; 30:170–182.

7. Lip SZ, Chillingworth A, Wright CM. Prevalence of under and over weight in children with neurodisability, using body composition measures. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018; 72:1451–1454.

8. Calis EA, Veugelers R, Sheppard JJ, Tibboel D, Evenhuis HM, Penning C. Dysphagia in children with severe generalized cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008; 50:625–630.

9. Song WJ, Park JH, Jung MY, Yoo EY. Effect of oral sensory treatment on oral function in dysphagic children with cerebral palsy. J Korean Soc Occup Ther. 2013; 21:47–58.

10. Hwang MK, Kim YA. A study on the differences of dietary habits between normal and handicapped children in Incheon area. Korean J Soc Food Sci. 1997; 13:192–203.

11. Kuperminc MN, Stevenson RD. Growth and nutrition disorders in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2008; 14:137–146.

12. Lopes PA, Amancio OM, Araújo RF, Vitalle MS, Braga JA. Food pattern and nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2013; 31:344–349.

13. Reilly S, Skuse D. Characteristics and management of feeding problems of young children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1992; 34:379–388.

14. Ahn SY. Comparison of food habits, food behaviors and food preferences in disabled children and non-disabled children [dissertation]. Gangneung: Gangneung Wonju University;2003.

15. Lee JS. A study on the characteristics of eating behaviors and status of food intakes of mentally retarded students [dissertation]. Gyeongsan: Yeungnam University;2008.

16. Matsuo K, Palmer JB. Anatomy and physiology of feeding and swallowing: normal and abnormal. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008; 19:691–707.

17. Andrew MJ, Sullivan PB. Growth in cerebral palsy. Nutr Clin Pract. 2010; 25:357–361.

18. Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Korean Nutrient Society. Dietary reference intakes for Koreans. Seoul: Sejong;2015.

19. Kim EK, An SY, Kim EM, Huh KJ. A comparison of the eating habits and eating behaviors of disabled and non-disabled children. Korean J Community Nutr. 2003; 8:840–855.

20. Cho SK, Koo S, Park K. Vitamin D and depression. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2014; 43:1467–1476.