Obesity is twice as common in constipated children

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Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:49 am Email this article
Obesity is twice as common in constipated children 4- to 17-years-old according to a new study from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Prevalence of obesity in constipated versus normal boys: 25% vs 14%; girls: 19% vs 10%

Obesity was found in 25 percent of constipated boys versus 13.5 percent of non-constipated boys, and 19 percent of constipated girls versus 9.8 percent of non-constipated girls.

Conclusion: It may be related to diet, exercise and hormones

“The higher prevalence of obesity may be a result of dietary factors, activity level, or hormonal influences and needs additional evaluation,” the authors concluded.

Comment: Surely it is a lack of dietary fiber

Comment: Surely the most obvious reason for this is a lack of dietary fiber in children who are constipated.

Comment: Dietary fiber associated with 7-8 lbs lower body weight

Studies have found that people who consume the most fiber have the lowest body weight.

Comment: Lean people eat 1.5 times as much fiber

Another study found that lean people eat 50 percent more fiber than obese people.

Comment: Additional 12 grams of fiber per day equals 7.7 lbs less weight gain

Another study estimated that increasing fiber intake by 12 grams per day reduced weight gain by 7.7 pounds.

Comment: Other articles about dietary fiber and body weight

Other studies about dietary fiber and body weight can be found here here.

REFERENCE

Pashankar D, Loening-Baucke V. Increased prevalence of obesity in children with functional constipation evaluated in an academic medical center. Pediatrics. 2005 Sep, 116(3):e377-e380.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dinesh Pashankar
MRCP
Pediatric Gastroenterology
FMP 408
Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar St
New Haven, CT 06520
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Childhood Obesity

• Fiber (Dietary Fiber)