Body Composition in Outpatient Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify quantitative (BMI z-score and BMI percentile) and qualitative (BC) differences between high functioning outpatient children with CP (GMFCS levels I/II) vs TD children, using BIA. We hypothesized that: 1) BMI z-score and BMI percentile will be lower in children with CP compared with their TD peers; and 2) body components (BC) directly associated with muscle mass (including fat free mass (FFM%) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and predicted muscle mass (PMM)) in children with CP will be lower than in their TD peers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety children with CP (GMFCS levels I/II) aged 8–16 years were enrolled in this study. Due to the fact that there is lack of normative values of particular body components in the pediatric population, ninety typically developing (TD) peers were used as references. The examination consisted of two parts: 1) the height measurement and 2) body composition assessments, both using the bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). RESULTS: Average values for height, weight, BMI z-score, and BMI percentile in children with CP were significantly statistically lower than in the reference group. BC’s directly associated with muscle mass (including FFM%, SMM, and PMM) in children with CP were lower than those in their TD peers. CONCLUSION: Altered body compositions were evident in children with CP.