title: Examination of the relation between body mass index, functional level and health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the relation between body mass index (BMI) and functional level and health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy-eight children with CP aged between 2 and 18 years were included in the study. The sociodemographic properties of the children were recorded. Their functional independence levels were assessed with WeeFIM and their health-related quality of life levels were assessed with the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form (PF-50). Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Abant İzzet Baysal University Medical Faculty for this study (Number: 2008/100-77).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When classified by body mass index, 26.3% of the children had a normal body weight, 5.4% were overweight, 11.5% were obese and 56.8% had a low body weight. The rate of low body weight was higher in children with moderate and severe CP (52.7% and 53.8%, respectively), while the rate of obesity was higher in children with mild CP who could walk (7.1%). A significant difference was found in children with CP with a normal body weight, overweight children with CP, obese children with CP and children with CP with a low body weight in terms of the total WeeFIM score and the variables of quality of life including physical functionality and role/social limitations because of physical health (p<0.05). In the correlation analysis, a positive correlation was found between WeeFIM and BMI and the subdimensions of role/social limitations because of emotional or behavioral difficulties, pain and discomfort and self-esteem (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that BMI affected functional independence and health-related quality of life in children with CP and this was more prominent in children who had severe CP and low BMI values. More studies are needed in this area.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül University, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Academy, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tülay Tarsuslu
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Şimşek
authors.affiliation: Private Keşan Public Hospital, Tekirdağ, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuç
keywords: Cerebral palsy; body mass index; functional level; health-related quality of life; obesity