W
hile so much effort
has been made by
governments, schools
and health care groups
around the world, childhood obesity
continues to climb at alarming rates.
It is estimated (1) that 35% of women
and 31% of men are considered
seriously overweight or obese, while
the figure for children between the
ages of 6 and 18 years is 15%. The
prevalence of obesity is even higher
in children with special needs. When
compared to their peers, the obesity
rate in girls with special needs is
23% while it is 14% in girls without
disabilities. Similarly, for boys the
prevalence is 21% for those with
disabilities and 17% for those without.
(1) US National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES):
The prevalence of obesity in
children with disabilities is a concern
since they already have more
obstacles to overcome than their
peers, either physically, mentally or
both. Obesity adds another layer
of issues, from the physical to the
emotional. Children with special
needs may be ostracized by their
peers and being overweight can add
an additional stigma, increasing their
risk of both isolation and depression.
In addition, extra weight puts a
physical strain on joints and muscles,
potentially reducing mobility. This
is an added dimension for children
who may already have issues with
movement and physical activity, and
which may lead to more weight gain.
Obesity can also pose challenges for
caregivers as it makes it harder to
help children with their daily tasks
such as bathing and toileting. Lastly,
obesity increases the risk of secondary
health problems, such as diabetes,
asthma, cardiovascular disease, sleep
apnoea, some cancers, stroke and
osteoarthritis.
While it is well known that being
overweight and obese is bad for health,
many caregivers struggle with how
to balance the need for nutrition
and the way to “diet” their children.
Finding this balance is tough for the
average child, but things can be more
complicated for special needs children
who may have behavioural issues,
sensory and textural issues and self-
regulation problems. For these kids,
their relationship with food is much
more complex and harder to manage.
Obesity has become a global epidemic. Worldwide,
obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980
and they continue to rise, especially in children with
special needs, writes Dietician
Denise Fair
.
Obesity
Special Needs
and the
Child
Behavioural issues
Behavioural issues are common
in special needs children, with the
most prevalent relating to food
being aversions or the avoidance of
particular foods based on appearance,
texture, colour or food group. Such
issues can make it harder to get
children to eat the right foods and
in the right amounts. Some children
may have increased sensory sensitivity
causing them to be particular about
smell, temperature and even lighting.
Anxiety around food and phobias
surrounding new or unknown foods
are common and can greatly limit
dietary choices. For these children,
getting them to eat a balanced
nutritional meal can be extremely
challenging. Most food aversions tend
to be around green and red foods,
fruits, vegetables and healthier foods,
while safe foods tend to be white
bread and starches, fried meats and
junk foods, making the chances of
becoming overweight even higher.
On top of these complications
comes the parent-child dynamic.
Many parents report they don’t
want to deprive their children of any
happiness that food provides them.
March 2016
53
