Constipation Linked to Obesity in Children

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children with chronic constipation are about twice as likely to be obese as their peers without this problem, according to a report in the medical journal Pediatrics.

"When a clinician sees a child with constipation, they should remember to evaluate them for obesity," lead author Dr. Dinesh S. Pashankar, from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, told Reuters Health. "As most people are aware, obesity is an increasing problem among children and unless there's an issue, like constipation, many obese children simply won't be seen by a clinician."

The new findings also have psychiatric implications, Pashankar emphasized. Individually, "obesity and constipation can cause behavioral issues and depression, but together the problem is likely to be more severe. Clinicians need to be aware of that."

The researchers compared the prevalence of obesity among 719 children with chronic constipation with no apparent organic cause and among 930 children in the same age group seen at a general pediatrics clinic who were not constipated (control group).

The rate of obesity among the constipated children was 22.4 percent, nearly double the rate seen in control children -- 11.7 percent. The association between constipation and obesity was noted in both boys and girls.

The new findings generally support those of a previous study, which examined this topic but did not include a control group, Pashankar pointed out.

As to the mechanism linking obesity and constipation, Pashankar said that diet is likely a major factor. "Less fiber intake probably results in greater caloric intake and together these dietary patterns cause both problems."

SOURCE: Pediatrics, September 2005.