Evaluation of Functional Status Associated with Overweight in Adults with Cerebral Palsy.

PURPOSE: To describe the motor disability level of ambulatory adults with overweight and cerebral palsy (CP) and to investigate the functional factors associated with weight gain in this population.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

METHODS: Thirty adults with CP were classified according to their body mass index (BMI). Mobility, physical disability, functional independence, gait and balance, gross motor function, and maximum walking speed were assessed to evaluate their physical status. The influence of demographic and functional factors on BMI was analyzed, using bivariate and multivariate regression analyses.

FINDINGS: Multiple regression analyses showed that age (p = .012) and lower cardiorespiratory function/lower walking distance (p = .048) were significantly associated with higher BMI. Other functional outcomes were not associated with BMI.

CONCLUSIONS: Greater age and reduced walking distance related to cardiorespiratory function seem to be the main factors associated with BMI.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation is recommended in conjunction with nutritional nursing interventions.