Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Youth (7-21 Years) with Intellectual Disabilities, without Down Syndrome, in the State of Kansas, USA: 2012-2019

Background: For typically developing (TD) youth in the United States (USA), Odgen and colleagues (2014) reported that for combine sexes the prevalence of overweight (OW) was 34.2% and 34.5% in ages 6-11 years and 12-19 years, respectively; and prevalence of obesity (OB) (Ogden and colleagues, 2016) of 17.4% and 20.5% in ages 6-11 years and 12-19 years, respectively. However, there has been no tracking of OW and OB rates of youth with intellectual disability (ID) in the USA.

Objective: To provide current estimates of the prevalence of OW and OB of youth with ID, without Down syndrome (DS), for ages 7-21 years in a midwestern state (Kansas).

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-two (222) males and 108 females, ages 7-21 years with moderate to mild ID without physical disabilities were evaluated between 2012 and 2019. Height and weight were measured using standardized protocols and body mass index (BMI: wt[kg]•ht[m]^-2) was calculated for age groups 7-12 years (children); 13-16 (adolescents); 17-21 (young adults). BMI classifications of OW and OB were determined using international standards for age and sex specific cut-off points (Cole et al., 2000).

Results: Results are illustrated in Table 1.

Table 1. Prevalence of OW and OB by Age and Gender

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Overweight Obese

7-12 yrs 13-16 yrs 17-21 yrs 7-12 yrs 13-16 yrs 17-21 yrs

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M 20% 18% 25% 15% 30% 34%

F 13% 31% 36% 17% 2 1% 40%

M+F 17% 26% . 27% 15% 29% 34%

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Conclusion: Compared to TD youth in the USA: youth with ID in Kansas reported lower prevalence of OW and OB in ages ≤12 years; and a lower prevalence of OW and a higher prevalence of OB in adolescents and young adults, respectively. These results challenge previous reports that OW and OB are more prevalent in populations with ID, without DS, and suggest that regional differences in obesogenic environments may exist.