Background: Growth retardation is common in children with cerebral palsy. This may in part be due to the cerebral injury, but insufficient nutrition may also play a role. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of feeding problems, growth retardation, underweight and overweight in children with cerebral palsy.
Material and methods: Population-based study of children with cerebral palsy in two Norwegian counties. Information was obtained both from parents and from medical records. 154 children born between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1996 were included in the study.
Results: 30% of the children had height below the 2.5th centile, 10% had weight for height below the 2.5th centile, and 7% were obese (weight above the 97.5th centile). 26% of the children had oral motor dysfunction and 33% were unable to self-feed. Although these problems were more prominent in children with severe forms of cerebral palsy, the results of the multivariate analyses suggested that lack of ability to self-feed was a significant independent risk factor for height growth retardation and underweight. Parents of 24 (15%) children reported that the family's quality of life was significantly impaired by the feeding problems of the child.
Interpretation: Our results are consistent with previous hospital-based studies and suggest that assessment of nutrition and growth should receive particular attention in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, in particular if the child is unable to self-feed.