Body Mass Index In Children With Cerebral Palsy

s: Background: Review of literature suggest conflicting presence of undernourishment as well as over weightness in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of present study is to analyse body mass index of children with different clinical types of cerebral palsy with respect to their gross motor functions using GMFCS. Methods: prospective cross sectional observational study was conducted on 50 children with CP (118 yr old) at pediatric rehab centre. BMI (Kg/m) was calculated. Abilities & limitations in gross motor functions were analyzed using GMFCS -E & R. Result: mean BMI of ambulatory & non ambulatory group were 13.82 kg/m& 13.14 kg/m respectively. There was no significant difference in terms of BMI between both group with p value 0.187 & level of significance 5%. Pearson correlation test was applied between BMI and GMFCS Level and negative correlation was found with r = 0.174. out of 50 patients 58% were having underweight. Amongst all underweight patients 34.48% were having Spastic quadriplegic CP. Conclusion: Underweight is prevalent in children with spastic quadriplegic CP. Therapeutic measures should be taken to prevent malnourishment. [Diwan S NJIRM 2014; 5(1) : 40-45]