EE values were 10% lower in Down syndrome patients compared with normal babies. Neonatal heartbeats were also found to be lower in Down syndrome babies (6 beats less per min on an average). The researchers found that REE was 14% lesser than healthy infants of comparable age. [Jacqueline et.al, 2003] more recent study aimed at understanding the differences in weight among normal people and the intellectually disabled population was conducted by the Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust and the Department of health. This was an extensive study which included 1119 ID subjects registered in the Leicestershire database and comapred their BMI data with non-intellectualy disabled subjects in the region. The data obtained indicated that among those aged 20 and above, the prevelance rates for obesity, overweight, normal weight, and underweight were 20.7%, 28%, 32.7% and 18. 6% respectively. From the data that was gathered it was clear that obesity was positively associated with downs syndrome and being a female was a high risk factor. Also, the researchers found absence of Down's syndrome as a clear factor in the case of underweight conditions. This research further confirmed that having down's syndrome predisposes one to obesity. [Sabyasachi Bhaumik et.al, 2007]
Obesity Screening and Health promotion Impact recent study in northern ireland was undertaken to identify the effect of screening programs and other health intervention programs for intellectually disabled people. Screening programs were conducted by 2 disability nurses for around 464 people aged over 10 years and attending special services in the region. It was found that around 64% of adults and 26% of those between 10 and 19 were either overweight or obese.
However, a follow up survey after 3 months indicated that of the 122 people identified and recommended for weight reduction programs only 34% participated in the program and only 3 among them achieved weight reduction. This study pointed out that screening programs by themselves are ineffective without any followup. In case of people with intellectual disabilities like Down's syndrome, obesity presents a huge problem and a collaborative effort is required for effective health promotion. [Marshall D. et.al, 2003]
Outcome for fitness and health education programs were effective among Down syndrome patients in Heller et.al (2004). In a randomised trial of 53 subjects, (29 females and 24 males) 32 subjects were randomly assigned to the program group while 21 subjects were in the control group. After the completion of a 12-week at 3 days per week training program, the subjects showed significant improvement in self-efficacy, expressed increased interest in exercise programs, displayed cognitive improvements, decreased depression levels and an overall improvement in positive outcomes. [Heller, 2004]
Conclusion
Down's syndrome is a common chromosomal disorder and a debilitating one. Asides the cognitive impariments, the disorder also causes obesity, another major health concern. With majority of the down syndrome population falling into overweight or obese conditions, the consequent health issues assume great significance. Background obesity is thus a huge problem in patients with intellectual disabilities, and in particular, Down's syndrome. Some of the studies reviewed above also showed a greater predisposition among females than males in contracting obesity due to Down's sydnrome. Though there is considerable amount of research devoted to obesity or Down syndrome seperately there is a dearth of research when it comes to studying the association between them. Some studies have been more generalized discussing the whole spectrum of Intellectual disabilities...
[J-L Gueant2 et. al, (2005)] Cognitive Functioning and Dementia 2001 study at the university of Guelph, Ontario, Canada has shown that the level of cognitive functioning may have implications for the onset of dementia among downs syndrome patients. The base for the research was the accepted theory that higher education implies greater 'synaptic reserve'. Earlier studies among healthy population has revealed that many years of education have an effect of slowing
Hearing loss 7. Heart problems (American Accreditation HealthCare Commission, 2009) The Cleveland Clinic reports that individuals with Down syndrome have different experiences in terms of the problems with health than those experienced by the normal population and these problems include a weakened immune system and premature aging. Alzheimer's disease is stated to be "far more common in people with Down syndrome..." (2009) Those who are 35 to 40 years old and who
Obesity and Its Consequences Obesity and its Prevalence Trends Final Research Paper: Obesity and Health Problems Obesity has significantly become an issue in the current century, which requires great intervention of the entire society. The research of this proposal aims at analyzing the situations related to obesity including; its causes, the effects it has on individual health, the manner in which it causes illnesses and related diseases and recommendations for easing the spread
Down's syndrome is basically a genetic disease that is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. The chromosome that is defaulted in this syndrome is chromosome number twenty-one. It has been seen that Down's syndrome is one of the most common chromosome disease that is seen in humans. The major striking features of this disorder are physical and mental growth delay. It should be noted that the children appear
Chicoine also cautions that whenever a patient declines in function, a thorough evaluation is necessary "to look for reversible causes, or, if no reversible cause is found, to confirm that the decline is consistent with Alzheimer's disease" (Chicoine pp). In other words, just as in the general population, Alzheimer's disease is a diagnosis of exclusion in persons with Down's (Chicoine pp). Because traditional neuropshychological testing, such as used for
In that regard, such foods are more likely to be consumed by those in the lower income brackets as they seek to shelter some dollars. When it comes to technological and agricultural innovations, Nnakwe explains that such occurrences drive down the prices of food (209). Cheaper food could motivate people to eat much more than their regular portions. Further, weight gain and thus obesity may be as a result
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