Nutritional evaluation of children and adolescents with myelomeningocele inserted in a program of physical activity in the municipality of Sao Paulo-SP

Introduction: A Myelomeningocele (MMC) consists of a bad formation of the embryonic neural tube, causing the spine to not close and the protruding formation of a dorsal sac. Objective: This study had the objective to evaluate the nutritional status of children and adolescents with myelomeningocele, practicants of basketball in a wheelchair. Methodology: The population of this cross-sectional field study was composed of 43 children and adolescents between 8 and 19 years old with myelomeningocele, participants of a sports initiation program, and was assessed the body composition by means of weight, height, arm and calf circumference and skin folds (subscapular and triceps). Results: 50% of the boys were eutrophic and 28% obese. This value was higher in girls, where 43% were classified as obese. The prevalence of very low stature for the age between girls was reached, reaching 71% of the total. Among boys, 36% fall into this category, predominantly age-appropriate height (50%). Discussion: The main findings were the tendency, for a large part of the group, to be overweight and / or obese. However, it is also possible to observe in some parameters that part of the respondents are in the eutrophic category, and still a small part in the category of malnutrition. Conclusion: More studies are needed to evaluate the long-term population and to define a specific parameter for them.