Abstract

PINEDA PEREZ, Eloy Jesús  and  GUTIERREZ BARO, Elsa Hilaria. The obesity control in children with Down syndrome. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2. ISSN 0864-2125.

Introduction: obesity is a health problem with epidemic dimensions at world scale and involves all ages and social groups. Also, it is a risk factor for other diseases and is common in persons with Down syndrome associated with a decrease of its life expectancy and although there are different treatments for its prevention and elimination, remains increasing. Objective: to explore he knowledges on the excess weight and obesity by part of parents of children with this syndrome and its response to educational strategy used. Methods: an educational intervention strategy was carried out with a study design of before-after on the knowledge of excess weight and obesity in children presenting with Down syndrome from the "Zunzún" Special Nursery of Ciudad de La Habana, from September to November, 2008. Twenty eight parents were involved in this study which was conducted in three phases where three workshops were applied. Results: before workshops only 8 (28,6 % of parents referred to have information on the excess weight and obesity from the Family Physician and the pediatrician of health area. Before workshops a significant majority not recognized this syndrome as a disease present in children and was not able to control them. After work shops there was a significant increase in recognition of obesity as a disease per se and in their own children, frequently they associated it with other health problems, less parents recognize a control on feeding and carrying out of physical exercises, with a significant difference in ability of these parents to control obesity in their children. Conclusions: workshops had a positive impact on the knowledge of disease, its relation as risk factor associated with other diseases, its interdependence with a overfeeding and sedentary habits; demonstrating the significance of educational programs including relatives of children with Down syndrome in prevention of excess weight and obesity.

Keywords : Down syndrome; obesity; inability; parents education.