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Weight management of youth with Prader‐Willi syndrome
Author(s) -
Mullins June B.,
VoglMaier Beate
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198705)6:3<419::aid-eat2260060312>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - psychology , obesity , weight management , nutrition education , rehabilitation , weight control , hypotonia , weight loss , developmental psychology , physical therapy , pediatrics , gerontology , medicine
Prader‐Willi (PW) syndrome is a relatively rare disorder in which hypotonia, hypogonadism, obesity, and some degree of cognitive and behavioral difficulties are experienced. A special rehabilitation group program for 9 children with this syndrome was undertaken in a residential setting for 26 days each of 3 years to facilitate weight reduction, nutrition awareness, physical fitness, and social adaptability. Parent education was also undertaken. The nutrition education included a red, yellow, and green diet system. An exercise program and social program with a behavior modification system of rewards was established. Selected measures were taken before and after each program. Over a 3‐year period, the 8 children who came for each of 3 summers maintained their weight control instead of vastly increasing their weight as untreated PW children do. It was therefore inferred that the children had gained nutrition awareness. The children improved to some extent on measures of physical fitness. Guidelines are suggested for school personnel and parents who are in contact with PW children.