Constipation and colonic transit times in children with morbid obesity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria in children with morbid obesity and to evaluate by measuring colonic transit times (CTTs) whether decreased colonic motility is present in these children.


METHODS
Ninety-one children with morbid obesity ages 8 to 18 years, entering a prospective, randomized controlled study evaluating the effect of an outpatient versus inpatient treatment program of obesity, participated. All of the children filled out a standardized questionnaire regarding their bowel habits, and CTTs were measured using radioopaque markers. Food diaries were also recorded to evaluate their diet.


RESULTS
A total of 19 children (21%) had functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria, whereas 1 child had functional nonretentive fecal incontinence. Total CTT exceeded 62 hours in only 10.5% of the children with constipation, and among them, 2 had a total CTT of >100 hours. In the nonconstipated group 8.3% had a delayed CTT. Furthermore, no difference was found between the diet of children with or without constipation, specifically not with respect to fiber and fat intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms a high frequency of functional constipation in children with obesity, using the Rome III criteria. However, abnormal colonic motility, as measured by CTT, was delayed in only a minority of patients. No relation was found between constipation in these children and fiber or fat intake.
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma's Children's Hospital/AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Olga H
OH
vd Baan-Slootweg
Olivia
O
Liem
Noor
N
Bekkali
Wim M C
WM
van Aalderen
Tammo H Pels
TH
Rijcken
Carlo
C
Di Lorenzo
Marc A
MA
Benninga
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires