Previous research shows that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience several difficulties—including those related to eating—and this area of research needs to be explored further. This study had two main objectives: (1) comparison of the clinical (autism spectrum disorder) and non-clinical sample of children in terms of avoidant/restrictive food disorder, food neophobia, other eating-related behaviours and feeding practices; (2) assessment of selected predictors of food neophobia. The final sample included 54 children and parents from the clinical sample (ASD) and 51 from the non-clinical sample. Parents completed: the autism spectrum rating scales (ASRS), the eating disorders in youth questionnaire (EDY-Q), the children food neophobia scale (CFNS), the child eating behaviour questionnaire (CEBQ), the child feeding questionnaire (CFQ), and a socio-demographic survey. Our analysis allowed us to partially confirm the first hypothesis since the clinical sample (vs. the non-clinical group) had significantly higher scores in such variables as (a) avoidant/restrictive food disorder (ARFID), (b) food neophobia, (c) other eating-related behaviours: emotional under-eating, desire to drink, food fussiness, (d) feeding practices: pressure to eat. Moreover, our analysis of predictors of food neophobia in the clinical and non-clinical samples also allowed us to partially confirm the second hypothesis because it turned out that only in the clinical sample (vs. the non-clinical sample) were the predictors significantly associated with food neophobia, but only two of them (food fussiness and selective eating). In conclusion, our study showed that children with ASD (compared to children without this diagnosis) experience increased difficulties in eating behaviours, and their parents present a stronger intensity of the feeding practice based on pressure to eat. This study showed that feeding problems for children in the ASD sample are a significant problem, and it is still worth exploring this area in research.

The link between scoliotic deformity and body composition assessed with bioimpedance (BIA) has not been well researched. The objective of this study was to correlate the extent of scoliotic-curve severity with the anthropometrical status of patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) based on standard anthropometric measurements and BIA. The study encompassed 279 IS patients (224 girls/55 boys), aged 14.21 ± 2.75 years. Scoliotic curve severity assessed by Cobb’s angle was categorized as moderate (10°–39°) or severe (≥40°). Corrected height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI), corrected height z-score, BMI Z-score, waist/height ratio (WHtR) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) were calculated for the entire group. Body composition parameters: fat mass (FAT), fat-free mass (FFM) and predicted muscle mass (PMM) were determined using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The mean Cobb angle was 19.96° ± 7.92° in the moderate group and 52.36° ± 12.54° in the severe group. The corrected body heights, body weights and BMIs were significantly higher in the severe IS group than in the moderate group (p < 0.05). Significantly higher FAT and lower FFM and PMM were observed in the severe IS group (p < 0.05). The corrected heights and weights were significantly higher in patients with severe IS and normal weight (p < 0.01). Normal and overweight patients with a severe IS had significantly higher adiposity levels assessed by FAT, FFM and PMM for normal and BMI, BMI z-score, WHtR, FAT and PMM for overweight, respectively. Overweight IS patients were significantly younger and taller than underweight and normal weight patients. The scoliotic curve severity is significantly related to the degree of adiposity in IS patients. BMI z-score, WHtR and BIA seem to be useful tools for determining baseline anthropometric characteristics of IS children.

Cel pracy: Celem pracy była ocena poziomu stresu u dzieci i młodzieży ze skoliozą idiopatyczną (SI), leczonych zachowawczo metodą Dobosiewicz (DoboMed), w korelacji do parametrów klinicznych i konieczności stosowania terapii za pomocą gorsetu.Metoda: Grupę badaną (GB) stanowiło 63 pacjentów (54 dziewczęta) o średniej wieku 14,7 lat. Wszyscy objęci badaniem byli leczeni metodą DoboMed, a 31 pacjentów stosowało także gorset (ortozę). W analizie wzięto pod uwagę stan odżywienia (BMI Z-score) pacjentów, wiek diagnozy, lokalizację skrzywienia oraz czas noszenia gorsetu. Poziom stresu analizowano dwukrotnie (kwestionariusze Bad Sobernheim Questionnaire Deformity (BSSQ-Deformity) oraz Bad Sobernheim Questionnaire Brace (BSSQ-Brace)) na początku i na końcu hospitalizacji.Wyniki: Większość dzieci i młodzież z SI leczonych metodą DoboMed odczuwa niski lub średni poziom stresu związany z deformacją kręgosłupa (odpowiednio 58,7% i 36,5%). Znamiennie wyższy poziom stresu (BSSQ-Deformity) stwierdzono w grupie leczonej gorsetem w odniesieniu do grupy leczonej tylko za pomocą kinezyterapii (p<0,05). Pacjenci leczeni gorsetowo prezentowali znamiennie wyższy poziom stresu związany z noszeniem ortozy, niż z samą deformacją kręgosłupa (p<0,0001). Poziom stresu (BSSQ-Deformity) korelował znamiennie z wiekiem chorych, BMI Z-score i liczbą przebytych hospitalizacji (p<0,05). Poziom stresu związany z deformacją był znamiennie zależny od wielkości kąta skrzywienia (kąt Cobb’a) w obu analizowanych podgrupach.Wnioski: Poziom stresu pacjentów z SI jest związany ze stopniem nasilenia schorzenia, niezależnie od metody leczenia. Terapia gorsetowa jest czynnikiem indukującym i nasilającym stres. Poziom stresu związanego z gorsetowaniem, przewyższa stres związany z deformacją kręgosłupa. Inne czynniki wpływające na poziom stresu to wiek, stan odżywienia i liczba hospitalizacji. Kompleksowe leczenie powinno obejmować także opiekę psychologiczną młodych pacjentów z SI.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have many potential factors (spasticity, immobilization, glucocorticoids use) for the deterioration of body composition. Aim: To assess the nutritional status (by classical anthropometry and by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)) in MS patients and to correlate it with clinical state, MS duration time and the presence of glucocorticoid therapy in anamnesis (ever used). Methods: Anthropometrical (BMI and waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-height ratio (W/HtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) and body composition (BIA) data were evaluated in 176 patients with MS. Fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass (FFM) were expressed as kilograms (kg), percentage (%) and indexes (FMI: fat mass index, FFMI: fat-free mass index) expressed in kg/m². The median Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 4.5. Patients were then divided according to EDSS score as mild (EDSS 1.0–4.0) or moderate (EDSS 4.5–6.5) disability subgroup. Results: Waist c., WHtR, WHR, and FM% were significantly higher in the moderate MS group (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; and p < 0.05, respectively). Whilst, FFM% was significantly lower (p < 0.05). BMI did not correlate significantly with any disability status score and MS time. Significant correlations were observed between EDSS, ΔEDSS and MS time and Waist c., WHtR, WHR, FM% and FFM%. WHtR had the strongest significance (p < 0.0001 vs. EDSS; p < 0.0001 vs. ΔEDSS; and p < 0.01 vs. MS time, respectively). After the adjustment to the MS time, only FM% was no longer significantly related to both EDSS and ΔEDSS. MS duration time, EDSS, ΔEDSS, WHtR, FM(kg), FM%, and FMI were significantly higher in the patients with a positive history of glucocorticoid therapy (all p < 0.05). Whilst, FFM% was significantly lower in MS patients treated with glucocorticoids (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Greater disability in MS patients is strongly related to lower fat-free mass and higher fat mass, especially with the abdominal distribution, irrespective of the duration time of the disease. Oral glucocorticoid therapy seems to have a negative impact on the body composition of MS patients. However, further prospective multifactorial studies in this field have to be done. For the proper assessment of nutritional status in MS patients, Waist c., WHtR, WHR, or body composition parameters seem to be of greater use than BMI.

The link between scoliotic deformity and bone metabolism in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has not been well researched. Moreover, the data concerning the cross-talk between fat tissue content/hormonal activity and bone markers in this group of patients are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess whether there exists a significant relationship between the severity of AIS and bone turnover markers and leptin levels. The study group was consisted of 77 AIS girls, aged 14.7 ± 2.17 years. Scoliotic curve severity assessed by Cobb’s angle was categorized as mild (10–19°), moderate (20–39°), or severe (≥40°). Corrected height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI), corrected height Z-score, BMI Z-score, and waist/height ratio (WHtR) were calculated for the entire group. Body composition parameters: fat mass (FAT), fat-free mass (FFM), and predicted muscle mass (PMM) were determined using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Bone turnover markers (osteocalcin (OC) and amino terminal of collagen cross-links (NTx) and leptin levels were assessed in serum. Multiple regression analysis showed that, OC, NTx (negatively with p < 0.05), and leptin (positively with p < 0.01) were significantly associated with curve severity in AIS girls. Moreover, Cobb’s angle was positively correlated with W/HtR (p < 0.01) and FAT (p < 0.05). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in leptin (p < 0.05 vs. mild only), OC (p < 0.05 vs. mild and moderate), and W/HtR (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 vs. mild and moderate, respectively) between the three AIS severity subgroups. OC was significantly lower in the severe AIS subgroup, while leptin and W/HtR were significantly higher. Significant correlations between leptin and anthropometrical parameters as BMI z-score and W/HtR were shown. Leptin level correlated also significantly with BMI z score (p < 0.001), W/HtR (p < 0.0001), and body composition parameters (p < 0.000001). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between NTx and leptin level (p < 0.05). Bone metabolism in AIS girls seems to be altered and significantly related to the scoliotic curve severity. Leptin may be a crucial link in the cross-talk between bone turnover and body composition in this group of patients. Further studies concerning interrelationship between nutritional status and bone metabolism in patients with AIS are warranted.

Body composition changes during childhood and adolescence. It is markedly different in children with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of patients with IS based on standard anthropometric indices and bioimpedance measurements (BIA). 59 patients with IS (45 girls/ 14 boys) at a mean age of 13.37 ± 2.67 years were qualified into the study. Scoliotic curves were assessed radiographically by measuring Cobb's angle and apical vertebral rotation (AVR, standing A-P view). Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and the body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, waist/height ratio (WHtR) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) were calculated for each participant. A bioelectrical impedance analyzer was used to assess body composition in every child. 64.4% of the children in the study had normal weight, while 23.7% of them were underweight and 11.9% overweight or obese. More patients in the juvenile IS group were underweight and fewer were overweight compared with the adolescent IS (AIS) group. Normal nutritional status was found significantly more frequently in girls. Body composition correlated significantly with scoliotic curve severity in the study group. Higher correlation coefficients were seen in overweight and obese patients, but significance was reached only for predicted muscle mass. WHtR correlated significantly with curve severity in the entire group, in AIS patients and in girls. Scoliotic curve severity also correlated significantly with the degree, as measured by the BMI Z-score, of both overweight (positively) and underweight (negatively). 1. Overweight and obesity appear to have a similar prevalence in scoliotic adolescents and in the general pediatric population. 2. Scoliotic curve severity appears to be related to body composition parameters, especially in overweight and obese patients. 3. Adipose tissue distribution measured by WHtR seems to be significantly related to the clinical grade of IS. 4. Further investigations concerning the nutritional status of children and adolescents with IS are recommended.