Nutrition needs assessment of young Special Olympics participants

Abstract

Background Children with intellectual disability (ID) are at increased risk for obesity and nutrition-related health concerns, yet there is a paucity of data describing their nutrition status. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nutritional challenges of young participants (2–10 years of age) enrolled in Special Olympics Canada (SOC) programs.

Method A validated nutrition screening tool was mailed to 52 parents/caregivers of participants across 18 SOC programs in British Columbia, Canada.

Results Of the 29 (55.8%) questionnaires returned, 62.1% scored as “high” nutrition risk. Nutrition concerns included feeding (84.2%), oral motor (57.9%), and dental problems (26.3%), food allergies/intolerances (26.3%), constipation (15.8%), anaemia (10.3%), and diarrhoea (5.3%). Body mass index (BMI) for age data classified 16.7% of participants as overweight/obese and 22.2% as underweight.

Conclusions This study identifies some of the unique nutrition issues faced by children with ID. These data can help inform future ID health-related nutrition, prevention, and treatment programs.

Keywords:

• nutrition
• children
• intellectual disability

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through Ministries of Children and Family Development, Education, and Healthy Living and Sport. The views presented in this article are solely those of the authors and do not represent the policy of HELP-UVic: REACH or the Province.

Conflicts of interest: None.