Overweight and obesity in 3- and 5-year-old children with and without developmental delay.
OBJECTIVE
To determine rates of obesity in nationally representative samples of 3- and 5-year-old children with and without developmental delay in the UK.


METHODS
Longitudinal birth cohort study.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data extracted from Waves 1-3 of the UK's Millennium Cohort Study.


RESULTS
By 3 years of age, children with developmental delay are significantly more likely to be obese than their typically developing peers [odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.67]. The risk of obesity and overweight associated with developmental delay increased between 3 and 5 years of age (obesity OR at 5 years of age 1.80, 95% CI 1.23-2.54). Risk factors associated with obesity at 5 years of age among typically developing children (greater material hardship, living in more deprived neighbourhoods, female gender) were not apparent among children with developmental delay.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased risk for obesity is apparent in young children at risk of intellectual disabilities. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Emerson
E
E
Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA14YT, UK. eric.emerson@lancaster.ac.uk
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology