Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with functional constipation aged 6 to 12 years attending outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital at Tamil Nadu, India

Authors

  • S. Selva Kumar Department of Surgery, Arunai Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
  • S. Santha Kumar Department of Paediatrics, Government Thiruvannamalai Medical College, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
  • S. Alph Shirley Department of Paediatrics, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20204943

Keywords:

Functional constipation obesity, Functional constipation overweight, Functional constipation children

Abstract

Background: Functional constipation and obesity negatively impact children in several aspects. Objective was to find the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with functional constipation in the age group of 6 to 12 years

Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at the outpatient department of the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Surgery at Arunai Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India among 186 children with functional constipation aged 6 to 12 years. Data was collected from the parents and children using a predesigned questionnaire and clinical examination done. Data collected were analyzed by suitable statistical methods.   

Results: Out of the 186 children with functional constipation studied, 76 (40.86%) had normal BMI, 66 (35.48%) were overweight and 44 (23.66%) were obese. Of the 66 overweight children with functional constipation, 50% are male and 50% are female. Of the 44 obese children with functional constipation, 63.64% were male and 36.36% were female. A statistically higher prevalence of overweight (63.79%) and obesity (25.87%) was observed in children with functional constipation in the age group of 11 to 12 years. There was no statistically significant correlation of gender and socioeconomic status with body mass index (BMI) in children with functional constipation. A higher prevalence of overweight (57.45%) was observed in children with functional constipation with a predominantly non vegetarian diet. 46.77% of children with functional constipation experienced encopresis. The percentage of children with encopresis was significantly higher in the obese group (88.64%) compared to overweight children (57.58%) and children with normal BMI (13.16%).  

Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with functional constipation aged 6 to 12 years.

References

Abarca-Gómez L, Abdeen ZA, Hamid ZA, Abu-Rmeileh NM, Acosta-Cazares B, et al. Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128· 9 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lanc. 2017;390(10113):2627-42.

Hyams JS, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman RJ, Staiano A, van Tilburg M. Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent. Gastroenterol. 2016;150(6):1456-68.

Pourhoseingholi MA, Kaboli SA, Pourhoseingholi A, Moghimi-Dehkordi B, Safaee A, Mansoori BK, et al. Obesity and functional constipation; a community-based study in Iran. J Gastrointestin Liv Dis. 2009;18(2):151-5.

Phatak UP, Pashankar DS. Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in obese and overweight children. Int J Obes. 2014;38(10):1324-7.

Mugie SM, Benninga MA, Di Lorenzo C. Epidemiology of constipation in children and adults: a systematic review. Bes Prac Resea Clinic Gastroenterol. 2011;25(1):3-18.

Koppen IJ, Kuizenga-Wessel S, Saps M, Di Lorenzo C, Benninga MA, van Etten–Jamaludin FS, et al. Functional defecation disorders and excessive body weight: a systematic review. Pediat. 2016;138(3).

Tambucci R, Quitadamo P, Ambrosi M, De Angelis P, Angelino G, Stagi S, et al. Association between obesity/overweight and functional gastrointestinal disorders in children. J Pediat Gastroenterol Nutrit. 2019;68(4):517-20.

Pashankar DS, Loening-Baucke V. Increased prevalence of obesity in children with functional constipation evaluated in an academic medical center. Pediat. 2005;116(3):e377-80.

Misra S, Lee A, Gensel K. Chronic constipation in overweight children. J Parent Ent Nutrit. 2006;30(2):81-4.

Olaru C, Diaconescu S, Trandafir L, Gimiga N, Stefanescu G, Ciubotariu G, et al. Some risk factors of chronic functional constipation identified in a pediatric population sample from Romania. Gastroenterol Resear Pract. 2016;2016.

Koppen IJ, Velasco-Benítez CA, Benninga MA, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M. Is there an association between functional constipation and excessive bodyweight in children?. J Pediat. 2016;171:178-82.

Karagiozoglou-Lampoudi T, Daskalou E, Agakidis C, Savvidou A, Apostolou A, Vlahavas G. Personalized diet management can optimize compliance to a high-fiber, high-water diet in children with refractory functional constipation. J Acad Nutrit Dietet. 2012;112(5):725-9.

Macêdo MI, Albuquerque MD, Tahan S, Morais MB. Is there any association between overweight, physical activity, fat and fiber intake with functional constipation in adolescents?. Scandinav J Gastroenterol. 2020;55(4):414-20.

Fujitani A, Sogo T, Inui A, Kawakubo K. Prevalence of Functional Constipation and Relationship with Dietary Habits in 3-to 8-Year-Old Children in Japan. Gastroenterol Resear Pract. 2018;2018.

Downloads

Published

2020-11-24

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles