Clinical Findings Related to Specific Developmental Disabilities and Associated Nutritional Issues
Syndrome or Developmental Disability | Nutrition-Related Problems |
|---|---|
Behavioral and/or sensory feeding problems Food selectivity, limited diet Medication side effects Underweight or overweight/obesity | |
Cerebral palsy | Altered energy expenditure due to hypotonia or hypertonia Altered GI function Drug-nutrient interactions/side effects Feeding difficulties, dysphagia Inadequate intake Malnutrition Muscle wasting/reduced muscle mass and/or increased body adiposity Underweight or overweight/obesity |
Altered GI function Feeding difficulties, dysphagia Increased body adiposity Increased risk of celiac disease Overweight/obesity Reduced energy expenditure due to hypotonia and short stature | |
Drug-exposed and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders | Drug-nutrient interactions/side effects Malnutrition Overweight/obesity Self-monitoring deficit/altered self-regulation Underweight |
Genetic or inherited metabolic disorders | Imbalance of nutrients Impaired nutrient utilization Malnutrition Unintentional weight loss/gain |
Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases | Altered GI function Drug-nutrient interactions/side effects Feeding difficulties, dysphagia Inadequate intake Malnutrition Overweight/obesity Reduced muscle mass/wasting Underweight Unintentional weight loss/gain |
Oro-facial cleft | Breastfeeding difficulty Increased energy expenditure Malnutrition Swallowing difficulty Underweight |
Prader-Willi syndrome | Behavioral feeding problems Inadequate intake in infancy due to hypotonia Malnutrition Overweight/obesity Pica Self-monitoring deficit, excessive oral intake |
Rett syndrome | Altered GI function Drug-nutrient interactions/side effects Feeding difficulties, dysphagia Inadequate intake Malnutrition Underweight, unintended weight loss |
Spina bifida (myelomeningocele) | Altered GI function Feeding difficulties, dysphagia (Chiari II malformation) Inadequate fluid and fiber intake Increased body adiposity and reduced muscle mass Overweight/obesity Reduced energy expenditure due to hypotonia and short stature Wounds |
GI, gastrointestinal.
From American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatric Nutrition. 9th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2025.