PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OBESITY IN DOWN’S SYNDROME
Résumé
Introduction Down syndrome is known to be a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone in infancy. Children with Down syndrome have a higher risk for developing obesity. Because of the negative consequences associated with obesity, prevention and interventions in children with Down syndrome should be a major health priority. In our study, to find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Down’s syndrome, 578 french children and adults living in communities were studied. Body Mass Index (BMI) and its relationship with environmental factors as dietary habits and physical activity were studied. Methods We analyzed 239 women (27.5 ± 14.5 years old) and 339 men (29.2 ± 13.7 years-old) located in 3 social medical centers in France. A questionnaire was used via the National file of the sanitary and social establishments (FINESS) and anthropometric measures (weight, height and BMI calculated), demographic data (age) and different indicators: diet program, physical activity (endurance, continuous exercise) were determined. Results It was found that 45.4% of males and 61% females were categorized as overweight and obese. The middle BMI in our population was 25.4 kg/m2 but the prevalence of obesity and overweight is 52,4% in contrast to the one of the French population which is 39%. 1,9 % of subjects are thin and 6,2 % are in severely or massively obese. The middle BMI increases from 41-50 years and decreases after 60 years. Overweight and obesity affect 61 % of the women against 44,5 % of the men. We observed that physical activity is associated with a lower category of BMI about 4 kg/m². The age, the interaction of sex and diet and physical activity are significant according to the BMI category. Even if the cause of obesity in people with Down syndrome is unknown and probably multifactorial, it would include the food habits, depressed metabolic rate, reduced exercise and endocrine abnormalities (Bricout, 2007; Fernhall, 2009; Mendonca, 2013). Discussion-Conclusion Physical activity alone is associated to a decline of BMI (p < .05) while, interaction of dietary and physical activity has no influence in the decline of BMI.