title: Nutrient intake and anthropometry in children and adolescents with Down syndrome--a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess nutrient intake and anthropometrical characteristics of children and adolescents with DS, in Northern Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 34 youngsters with DS. The sample was divided into two age groups, children aged 2-9 years and adolescents aged 10-18 years old. A 3-day food record was used to assess dietary intake. Body weight, height, WHR,% body fat, BMI, FMI, FFMI and z-scores were recorded for each participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants exhibited a high CHO and low fat diet. More than half of the participants reported having five meals daily and the majority exercised twice a week. A great majority was stunted and overweight according to general population growth charts and 22% of the adolescents were also obese. %Body fat, BMI, FMI and FFMI was higher in adolescents. Generally, younger participants presented lower overweight rates and consumed a diet more sufficient in micronutrients; however, WHR was similar in both age-groups, indicating a constant trend in weight distribution of DS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although children with DS are born with a genetic predisposition to become overweight, obesity is actually nurtured throughout childhood when they develop food choices and become more independent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grammatikopoulou
authors.forename: Albana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manai
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsigga
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsiligiroglou-Fachantidou
authors.forename: Assimina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli-Tsinopoulou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakas
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients